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INTERNAL ASSIGNMENT APPLICABLE FOR SEPTEMBER 2024
EXAMINATION
Business:
Ethics, Governance & Risk
Q1. “Business
should Respect and Promote Human Rights.” Prepare an executive summary (in your
own words) to showcase how the company is delivering on this Principle 5 of the
National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC) from the Business Responsibility
& Sustainability Report 2022-23 (BRSR) of a company of your choice. Choose
any ONE listed company from the BSE/NSE list of top 100 companies by market capitalization.
You must mention the name of the selected company and include the weblink to
its BRSR. (You may also refer to the company website or its sustainability
report for additional information on this principle and its indicators) DO NOT
copy paste.
Q2. Go through the
‘Management Discussion & Analysis’ section in the annual report (FY2022-23)
of the company selected in Q1 and prepare an analytical write up (in your own words)
on all the risks identified by the company and the mitigation/management strategy/action
deployed to manage each of those risks. Conclude with your learnings or insights
about risk management in this company. (You may need to look at other sections covering
risks in the integrated report or annual report of the company. Please mention
the name of the company and include the weblink to its annual report 2022-23.
DO NOT copy paste.
Q3. Albert, a
Customer Relations Executive from your Southeast Asia third party manufacturing
vendor will visit your Head Office to meet with your sales team. Your independent
Southeast Asian agent requests that you reimburse the Customer Relations Executive
for his expenses, including personal expenses that could violate your company's
policies. The independent agent promises to reimburse you.
A. Explain the
process/steps you will follow to handle this situation?
B. We need Ethical Managers more than ever today. Briefly explain what
are the five most important values/virtues that help/guide a manager take
ethical decisions, according to you.
Research
Methodology
Q1. A consultancy company providing services in the area of Digital
Transformation and Analytics is seeing a considerable amount of attrition among
its employees. The company is interested in reducing the level of attrition as
the cost of recruiting new employees is adding to the burden of its overall
cost. Discuss the management problem and convert it into a research problem.
Write down the research plan for this study.
Q2. You have been working in HDFC bank as marketing manager. You have to
study the relationship between new adverting campaign themes and customer’s
liking of the campaign. Explain independent, dependent and extraneous variables
for this study. State the design of experiment, null and alternative hypothesis
for this situation. What are the potential threats of internal and external
validity?
Q3. The real estate boom has seen significant rise after the pandemic is
over from last two years. The prices of mid-size flats for the middle class has
gone up considerably. One of the real estate branded company (Paradise Group)
has been following ethical practices and RERA (Real Estate Regulatory
authority) standards. They have been providing Semi-furnished housing, quality
material, timely possession and legal rights to its customers. However, the
prices offered by Company is slightly higher than those of customers in the same
area/zone. They relied on both paid adverting and word of mouth (WOM) promotion
as they believe in real estate has to leverage both.
a. Develop suitable research questions, research objectives and
variables to be studied and measured.
b. Develop a suitable questionnaire for answering the developed research
problems and objectives. Explain the type of scale after each question.
Financial
Institutions and Markets
Q1. As a financial advisor at your advisory firm, you have a client who
is seeking to diversify their investment portfolio by venturing into capital
market instruments alongside their existing investments. This discussion will enable
your client to make informed decisions regarding their investment strategy and
portfolio diversification. Assist your client by providing comprehensive
insights into various capital market instrument including their key characteristics.
Q2. Sunshine Ltd. Corporation, a fast-growing technology start-up, is
poised for expansion and seeks to raise capital to fund its ambitious growth
plans. The company's management team, led by CEO John Ceth, recognizes the
importance of strategically accessing the primary market to secure the
necessary funds. As an advisor to the company, help the corporation to provide
a brief overview on the numerous techniques as how the corporation can raise
fresh capital in the primary market.
Q3A. “The capital market, a crucial component of the global financial
system, serves as a platform for investors to buy and sell securities,
facilitating the allocation of capital to businesses and governments. However,
amidst the myriad opportunities for growth and investment, instances of scams
and fraudulent activities have tarnished the integrity of the capital market “.
Provide examples of regulatory interventions and their impact on restoring investor
confidence. Conclude with recommendations for enhancing regulatory
effectiveness in combating financial misconduct.
Q3B. India's financial sector plays a crucial role in driving economic
growth and stability. As MBA students specializing in finance, it is imperative
to have a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory landscape governing
financial institutions in India. Discuss the various financial Regulatory
Institutions in India with their functions.
International
Finance
1) At time of analysis of any particular Economy bird eye view by IMF,
why usually Balance of Payment paves the Important aspect? Explain the paradigm
from its Current Account pt. of view.
2) As per Mr. Gustav Cassel, PPP (Purchase Power Parity) rate is more
crucial than normal OTC (Exchange rate). Kindly elaborate the effectiveness of
PPP Theory with its global features along with its Mathematical Application in
International Finance regime.
3) a) What is the Cruciality of EEFC Account? How come the era of EEFC
A/C helps Global Traders for Non conversion of FOREX into Domestic Currency?
b) Elaborate as how Translation Risk forms one of very IMP FOREX Risks.
Strategic
Financial Management
Q1. Oxford Corporation is evaluating a new project that requires an
initial investment of INR 15,00,000. The project is expected to generate cash
flows over the next five years, but there is considerable risk surrounding
these cash flows due to market volatility. Based on the company's analysis, the
following information is available:
• The initial investment is INR 15,00,000
• The expected cash flows from the project for each year are as follows:
Year 1: INR 4,00,000
Year 2: INR 5,00,000
Year 3: INR 6,00,000
Year 4: INR 7,00,000
Year 5: INR 8,00,000
• The discount rate for the project is 10% and the Risk adjusted
discount rate is 20%
1. Determine the Net Present Value (NPV) using the Risk adjusted
discount rate.
2. Can the project be accepted, if the risk adjusted discount rate is
increased to 25%
Q2. The board of directors of Varun Limited are deliberating over its
dividend policy. As a financial analyst, you've been tasked with providing
recommendations regarding dividend policy that align with the company's goals
and objectives. Considering the various factors influencing dividend policy
decisions, analyze and provide recommendations for Varun Limited’s dividend
policy.
Q3a. Digital Gadgets Ltd pays INR 10 as annual preference dividend and
has the required rate of return as 12%. Compute the market price of the
preference shares of Digital Gadgets Ltd? Will you buy this share if it is
currently selling at INR 80 per share?
Q3b. Call Option on stock of Arvind Ltd. having expiration date of 31
Dec 2024 at a Strike price (K) of Rs.2500 is available at an option premium of
Rs.200. Compute the profit/loss when the spot price is INR 2800 on 31 Dec 2024.
Taxation- Direct
and Indirect
Q1. How does the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) resonate
with the concept of 'one nation, one tax', and what are its implications for
businesses and consumers in simplifying the indirect tax system of the country?
Q2. The following are the particulars of income of Ms. Sushmita for the
previous year ended 31st March 2023. She is employed in a private
institution.
1. Basic Salary Rs.9000 p.m.
2. Bonus equal to 2 months’ salary
3. Tiffin allowance Rs. 150 p.m.
4. Entertainment allowances Rs. 120 pm
5. Employee’s contribution to RPF @ 15% of salary.
6. Employer’s contribution to RPF @ 15% of the salary.
7. Interest credited to the provident fund @ 9.5% p.a is Rs. 5600
8. She is provided with free lunch in office. The cost per meal is Rs.
30.
9. The employer has given her a small car which she uses for personal as
well as official
purpose. She meets the expenses of the car which is used for personal
purposes. Compute her income from salary for the assessment year 2023-24.
Q3. a) How does the Income Tax Act of 1961 elaborate on the criteria and
conditions that determine the residential status of an individual for the
purposes of taxation within India?
b) Considering the case of Mr. Potter, a foreign national, who arrived
in India for the first time on June 15, 2017. Over the financial years 2017-18,
2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022- 23 he spent 120 days, 115 days, 15
days, 191 days, 124 days, and 80 days in India, respectively. Determine Mr.
Potter's residential status for the Assessment Year 2023-2024.
Retail Banking
Q1. The Retail Banking segment has become extremely competitive and
hence it has become challenging for Retail banks to setup strategies to
establish their presence, and grow in the market by reaching to as many
customers as possible. Discuss the various Corporate level marketing strategies
deployed for the same. Also discuss the need and relevance of distribution
management
Q2. The banking transactions has seen a drastic shift in the payment
mechanism especially post covid. Discuss the relevance of a payment system in
the context of the retail banking scenario by enlisting the various payment
systems. Explain any three such payment systems in detail.
Q3. Retail banks have faced a long-standing challenge in the form of repayment
defaults which may convert to non-performing assets (NPAs) in many cases. Thus
banks need to critically evaluate their lending process. Discuss the following
aspect of Credit provision in Retail banking a. Discuss the basic lending
principles followed by retail banks. b.
Discuss the components of the credit score and the importance of the CIBIL
score.
Corporate Finance
1. M/s Anuradha Ltd. has a long-term fund requirement of Rs. 45 lacs for
putting up a new
manufacturing unit. The following options of funding are available.
a) It can raise a perpetual debt @ an interest rate of 9% p.a.
b) It can issue bonds of Rs. 100 each, at a discount of 10%. Coupon rate
of 6%. Bonds have a term of 5 years.
c) Issue Preference shares at a discount of 5%, redeemable at par after
6 years. Rate of Dividend is 8%
d) Invest retained earnings to the extent of 50% and take a loan from
the bank for the balance at 8.5% interest rate for a period of 4 years. Equity
holders expect a return of 15% from the business. Corporate Tax rate is 30%. Which
option would the firm choose? What should be some of the factors that a company
should consider while raising Debt from the market (mention any 4 factors)
2. Calculate the Cash Cycle for M/s ABC Traders Ltd. which is in the
business of buying and selling garments. The following information is available
for the firm.
Opening Balances Amt. Rs.
Inventory 10,000
Debtors 40,000
Creditors 10,000
Closing Balances
Inventory 30,000
Debtors 60,000
Creditors 20,000
Costs Incurred during the year
Total
Purchases (50% on credit) 12,00,000
Selling
Expenses 80,000
Administrative
Expenses 25,000
Total Sales (80% on credit) 15,00,000
Assume 360 days in a year. The average cash cycle in the same industry is
around 10 days. Comment on the cash cycle of M/S ABC Ltd. The Finance Manager
is looking at the cash collection process critically and wants to reduce the
Cash Cycle. What steps would you suggest her as her assistant?
3. a) Mr. Ramesh wants to plan to fund for his son’s education. He
estimates that once his son is 21 years of age, he shall require to make a
provision of about Rs. 5,00,000 for his college fees. His son is now 15 years
of age. How much shall Mr. Ramesh invest today to make adequate provisions? He
is also contemplating to make a fixed investment every year instead of a total
investment today. How much should he invest each year to get the same amount of
fees? The current rate of interest is around an average of 8%.
b) Prepare cash budget of M/s Nirma Ltd. with the following information
available.
Jan. 23
Feb. 23 Mar. 23
Sales
200,000 150,000 265,000
Raw
Materials Purchase 160,000 135,000 190,000
Manufacturing
Expenses 22,000 15,000 35,000
Selling & Other Expenses 10,000 9,000 10,000
Opening Cash balance was Rs. 15000 for Jan. 23. Opening Debtors were Rs.
52500.
Sales are typically 75% in cash and 25% credit, which are received in
next month. There was a scheduled loan repayment of Rs. 25000 in Feb. 23. All
expenses are assumed to be paid for in cash.
Strategic Cost
Management
1) ABC Ltd. produces 3 products A, B & C. The following data is
available for the year ended 31st March 2023.
Product A
Product B Product C
Production
Qty (Units) 4,000 3,000 1,600
Total
Machine hours for production 60 30 20
Resources
Per Unit -
Direct
Material (Kgs) 4 6 3
Direct Labour (Mins) 30 45 60
Cost of Labour is Rs. 10 per hour and material cost Rs. 2/kg. Production
Overheads (Fixed) were Rs. 99,450. ABC Ltd. used Traditional Costing method and
absorbed the Overheads to products based on Labour hour rate. It is now
considering to adopt Activity Based Costing method. The following information
was digged out and analysed by the Cost Accountant. Overheads were comprised of
the following: Material Handling Rs. 29,100, Storage Costs Rs. 31,200 and Power
Cost Rs. 39,150. Further the area occupied for storage of materials was in the
ratio of 2:1:3. Prepare Cost sheet showing Unit cost and Total cost of each
product using both Traditional Costing and ABC methodology.
2) Sitaram Ltd. is an ice cream manufacturer company. Its current
revenue is Rs. 650,000 a month and a 40% contribution margin. Its fixed costs
are Rs. 200,000. Ghanshyam Ltd. is another player in the ice cream business
with a current sales of Rs. 420,000 and a 30% contribution margin. Its fixed
costs are Rs. 90,000.
a) What is the margin of safety for Sitaram and Ghanshyam Ltd? Compare
the margin of safety in value between the two companies. Which is stronger?
b) Compare the margin of safety in percentage between the two companies.
Now which one is stronger?
c) Prepare a budget for both companies showing their estimated profit at
the current levels and at 75% of the current capacity. State your observations
with respect to the Profit/Loss levels in both situations and their relation to
Margin of Safety percentage.
3) a) Precision Limited is motor manufacturer. The company currently
produces three different models of motors. It also produces all the blades of
the motors as it requires. The requirement is of 3 different blades for each
motor model (i.e. 9 different blades). Precision Limited received a proposal
from a supplier who wants to sell the company blades for the motors line. The
supplier would charge Rs. 25 per blade, regardless of blade type. For the next
year the Company has projected the costs of its own blade production as follows
(based on projected volume of 10,000 units):
Direct materials Rs. 75,000
Direct labour Rs. 65,000
Variable overhead Rs. 55,000
Fixed overhead
Factory supervision Rs. 35,000
Other fixed cost Rs. 65,000
Total production costs Rs. 2,95,000
Assume:
(1) the equipment utilized to produce the blades has no alternative use
and no market value,
(2) the space occupied by blade production will remain idle if the company
purchases rather than makes the blades, and
(3) factory supervision costs reflects the salary of a production
supervisor who would be dismissed from the firm if blade production is ceased. Determine
the net profit or loss if the blades are purchased rather than manufactured.
b) Priya Motors is planning to coming up with a new electric car. The
promotor of the company has been conducting research in this field on and off
for the past 2 years. The approximate amount spent on the R&D till date is
Rs. 2 lacs. The cost of production of the vehicle is estimated to be Rs. 3
lacs. Marketing and promotional expenses are to the tune of Rs. 50,000. Based
on prior experience, car has a after sales service expenses of Rs. 25,000 on an
average during its life time. Being an electric car the cost is estimated lower
at Rs. 20,000. If the company wants to earn a profit margin of Rs. 40,000 per
car, at what price should Priya Motors price it? (Time value of money is
ignored) What is the approach used for costing the car? Considering the stage
of the product, what should be the considerations for spending on the following
costs: a) Advertisement b) Maintenance cost.
Decision science
1. Consider the following data on the categories of YouTube Shorts and
their views. The table shows the number of YouTube Shorts in each category that
have been classified as either "High Views" (more than 1,000,000
views) or "Low Views" (1,000,000 views or less).
Category |
High Views |
Low Views |
Music |
50 |
100 |
Comedy |
30 |
170 |
Education |
20 |
180 |
Gaming |
40 |
160 |
Travel |
10 |
190 |
i. What is the probability that a randomly selected YouTube Short is in
the Music category?
ii. What is the probability that a randomly selected YouTube Short has
High Views?
iii. What is the probability that a randomly selected YouTube Short has
Low Views?
iv. If a YouTube Short is known to be in the Comedy category, what is
the probability that it has High Views?
v. If a YouTube Short is known to have High Views, what is the
probability that it is in the Gaming category?
2. Use 4 month moving average, and 5 month moving average too. For which
moving average Mean Square Error is less?
Month |
Total views on YouTube channel |
Jan-23 |
10484 |
Feb-23 |
10884 |
Mar-23 |
13372 |
Apr-23 |
14742 |
May-23 |
16141 |
Jun-23 |
17210 |
Jul-23 |
17303 |
Aug-23 |
18132 |
Sep-23 |
18208 |
Oct-23 |
19099 |
Nov-23 |
20936 |
Dec-23 |
21914 |
Jan-24 |
22892 |
Feb-24 |
23870 |
Mar-24 |
24848 |
Apr-24 |
25826 |
May-24 |
26803 |
Jun-24 |
27781 |
3. a) Use an appropriate chart to show the contribution of each category
of sales with conclusion. Rahul has this channel and offers a variety of
content to users.
category |
Average Views |
Music |
1,200,000 |
Comedy |
800,000 |
Education |
600,000 |
Gaming |
900,000 |
Travel |
700,000 |
3. b) Suppose we have the duration (in seconds) of 10 YouTube Shorts
videos: 120, 130, 140, 125, 135, 150, 128, 132, 142, and 155. Calculate the
mean (average) duration of these videos.
Organisation
Culture
1. Examine how Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions influence an
organisation's internal practices and employee behaviours. Discuss the
implications of high vs. low Power Distance and Individualism vs. Collectivism
on organisational communication and teamwork, using examples from multinational
corporations?
2. Using Handy's Organisational Culture Model, evaluate how the typology
of culture (Power Culture, Role Culture, Task Culture, and Person Culture)
within an organisation influences its operations, employee engagement, and
strategic agility. Provide an example of an organisation for each type of culture
discussed, highlighting the impact of culture on the organisation's success and
challenges.
3. FinTech Innovators, a prominent player in the financial technology
sector, finds itself at a pivotal moment of organisational evolution.
Historically entrenched in a Role Culture characterized by rigid hierarchies
and defined job roles, the company has embarked on a transformative journey
towards adopting a Task Culture. This strategic shift is motivated by the
recent acquisition of a startup specializing in financial analytics, a move
that not only diversifies FinTech Innovators' portfolio but also introduces a
cultural amalgamation challenge.
This transition aims to foster a more flexible and responsive
organisational environment, conducive to innovation and enhanced customer
service. However, the path is fraught with potential pitfalls, reminiscent of
historical integration failures such as the ill-fated merger between Burger
Chef and General Foods. These examples serve as cautionary tales, highlighting
the critical importance of careful cultural integration to avoid operational
inefficiencies and lost market potential.
The task at hand for FinTech Innovators involves devising a
comprehensive plan to seamlessly blend the traditional Role Culture with the
more agile and collaborative Task Culture of the acquired startup. Key to this
process is strategic communication, ensuring that all employees are aligned
with the new cultural direction and understand their roles within it.
Leadership plays a crucial role in this transformation, tasked with modelling
the desired behaviours and fostering an environment of openness and
adaptability.
To ensure the effectiveness of this cultural shift, FinTech Innovators
must establish clear metrics for success. These include enhanced organisational
performance indicators such as market share growth, product innovation rates,
and customer satisfaction levels. Equally important is measuring employee
engagement and satisfaction, as these are critical barometers of internal
acceptance and assimilation of the new culture.
In summary, FinTech Innovators stands on the brink of a significant
cultural transformation. By learning from past merger challenges and
meticulously planning the integration of diverse cultures, the company aspires
to not only navigate this transition successfully but also to emerge as a more
innovative, agile, and market-responsive entity.
a) How should FinTech Innovators approach the integration of the newly
acquired startup's Task Culture to enhance its strategic agility without
diluting the core values that have underpinned its success in a Role Culture
environment?
b) Considering the historical challenges faced by companies like Burger
Chef and General Foods during their cultural integration processes, what
specific strategies should FinTech Innovators employ to ensure a seamless
cultural merger, thus avoiding similar pitfalls and ensuring employee
engagement and satisfaction?
Management Theory
and Practice
Q1. Dr. Rohit Mahajan, a promising young researcher, has secured a
prestigious research grant. However, claiming the funds requires navigating a
complex bureaucratic maze within the university administration. Long forms,
unclear procedures, and seemingly endless approvals threaten to delay his
crucial project. In light of this case, what principles of bureaucratic
managements must Rohit consider? Please elaborate on the relevant principles of
bureaucratic management.
Q2. The Marketing Manager, Alex, is implementing a complex communication
policy with lengthy approval processes for emails and documents. This coincides
with a new CEO who rarely interacts with lower-level employees, creating a
sense of isolation and lack of transparency.
How do these communication barriers affect employee morale, engagement,
and productivity? How can these communication barriers be fixed to improve
communication flow?
Q3. Mohit, a store manager at a university cafeteria, faces two
challenges. First, he needs to order enough food items like sandwiches and
salads to meet daily demand, which fluctuates based on class schedules. Second,
a new student group has requested for a specialized vegan menu option.
Mohit has two decisions to deal with. First, how much of each standard
food item he should order. Second, whether he should implement the new vegan
menu option.
a. Which of the above two decisions fall under the programmed or
non-programmed categories? Explain your answer.
b. What are the benefits and drawbacks of each decision in this
situation?
Marketing
Management
Case Study: E-JOSH Technologies
E-JOSH Technologies is a startup company founded in 2020 by a group of
tech enthusiasts with a vision to revolutionize the education sector through
innovative digital solutions. E-JOSH Technologies primarily targets students,
teachers, and parents in the K-12 education sector. The company's products and
services are designed to cater to the diverse needs of these groups, providing
personalized and interactive learning experiences.
E-JOSH Technologies offers a range of products and services designed to
enhance the learning experience for students, teachers, and parents. These
products are built on the foundation of artificial intelligence (AI) and
machine learning (ML) to provide personalized and interactive learning
opportunities. Some of the key features of products include:
AI-Powered Learning Platform: The core product of E-JOSH Technologies is
its AI-powered learning platform. This platform offers a wide range of
educational content, including interactive lessons, quizzes, and virtual classrooms.
The AI technology used in the platform analyzes the learning patterns and
preferences of each user to provide personalized recommendations and feedback,
helping students learn more effectively.
Mobile App: E-JOSH Technologies also offers a mobile app version of its
learning platform, allowing users to access educational content on-the-go. The
app is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy for students
to navigate and engage with the content.
Teacher Dashboard: For teachers, E-JOSH Technologies provides a teacher
dashboard that allows them to track the progress of their students, assign
tasks and quizzes, and communicate with students and parents. The dashboard is
designed to streamline the teaching process and enhance collaboration between
teachers, students, and parents.
Parent Portal: The parent portal provides parents with insights into
their child's learning progress, including their performance in quizzes and
assignments. Parents can also communicate with teachers through the portal,
enabling them to be more involved in their child's education.
E-JOSH Technologies operates on a subscription-based model, offering
different tiers of access to its platform based on the user's needs. The
platform provides a wide range of educational content, including interactive
lessons, quizzes, and virtual classrooms, all designed to enhance the learning
experience and improve academic performance.
The marketing team at E-JOSH Technologies focuses on traditional
marketing strategies to reach a wider audience. The operations team ensures the
smooth functioning of the platform, managing content updates, user accounts,
and technical support. They also work closely with the technology team to
implement new features and improvements based on user feedback. The finance
team is responsible for managing the company's finances, including budgeting,
financial planning, and revenue analysis. They also oversee the billing process
and ensure that subscription fees are collected on time. The technology team is
at the core of E-JOSH Technologies, responsible for developing and maintaining
the AI-powered learning platform. They continuously work on improving the
platform's functionality, security, and user experience.
One of the major challenges facing E-JOSH Technologies is the
competitive nature of the EdTech industry. There are several well-established
players in the market offering similar products, making it challenging for
E-JOSH Technologies to differentiate itself and attract new users.
E-JOSH Technologies has shown great potential to disrupt the education
sector with its innovative AI-powered learning platform.
(You can make valid assumptions wherever applicable while answering the
questions)
Q1. Explain various marketing management orientations and their alignment
with E-JOSH Technologies.
Q2. What are the key geographic, demographic, psychographic, and
behavioral characteristics of the segments that E-JOSH Technologies targets?
Q3 a) How can E-JOSH Technologies leverage digital marketing channels?
Q3 b) Which positioning strategy could be most appropriate for E-JOSH
Technologies, explain with reasons.
Organizational
Behaviour
1. Think about a person with whom you may have worked, who happens to be
very different from you, such as someone of the opposite gender who also is a
member of a different racial group and/ or from a different region or country.
In what ways was this experience challenging for you? In what ways did these
differences prove to be beneficial? What insight do you believe the field of OB
can give you with respect to this experience?
2. A friend who runs a small media company has approached you for
advice. He believes that the attitude of his employees seems to be getting very
negative with each passing day. Performance seems to declining and attrition is
on the rise, especially with new hires. At the exit interviews, a few employees
reported that they felt dissatisfied with the working environment, had long
working hours and unsupportive managers. The work seemed monotonous and no
appreciation by managers is ever given. New employees have been found taking up
jobs with this company's competitors.
Which major attitudes are a cause of concern in the given situation? How
can this organization deal with the same?
3. You have recently started heading a very big hospital that has a lot
of nursing staff. Upon joining as the director, the management has informed you
that this hospital faces a peculiar crisis. This crisis is related to very poor
moral and motivation among the nursing staff. Upon further research you are
given to understand that the nursing staff has very high absenteeism and
turnover and low patient care feedback. Not just the patients, but the doctors
are also unhappy with the services of the nursing staff. You are now responsible
to diagnose the main issues here and help improve the situation. As you go
ahead and speak with a few nurses you find three main problems. The first
problem is that the nursing staff believes that no one in the organisation
appreciates their work or encourages them in any way. The second major issue is
that the nurses feel that their counterparts in other hospitals are paid much
better than them. The third problem is that they feel bored with the routine
jobs and roles that have been assigned to them since many years.
a) What theories of motivation can be applied in context to the first
two issues faced by the nurses? b)
Explain the ways in which each of the three issues mentioned in case can be
addressed.
Business Law
Q1. Explain in details two (2) real-life instances of Anti-Competitive
Agreements which have been prohibited by the Competition Commission of India.
Q2. Illustrate the essential features of Contract.
Q3. Surendra and Kashyap have entered into an agreement to license
technology. However, Surendra did not complete the full delivery of the
technology license to the satisfaction of Seema. Hence, disputes arose between
Surendra and Kashyap. Surendra and Kashyap do not want to go through a
protracted litigation process before the conventional forums/courts. Can you
advise them on:
A) What should be done to conduct an arbitration between Surendra and
Kashyap to resolve their disputes.
B) The difference between Arbitration, Conciliation and Mediation? What
is the advantages and disadvantages of each of these?
Essentials of HRM
Q1. How would you design and implement talent management strategies to
effectively attract, develop, and retain millennial employees in your
organization?
Q2. List down the key steps in designing a performance management system,
and how does each of these steps enhance organizational effectiveness and
employee development?
Q3. Ashish Chandana is the gold medalist of batch 2022 who has passed
out of an excellent B- School, in Marketing and Finance. He is lucky to have
got a PPO in COVID time. He has been hired by a data analytics and
research-based company (XYZ) as a Research Associate for data mining,
researching, developing data driven solutions for the company’s clients.
Currently, he has been put in a team of five members who are working for an
automotive giant of India. During the COVID, the company suffered an
unmanageable loss of talented workforce as a result of mass exodus and
migration of labour who had lost home and livelihood in lockdown. The client
never wants to experience the disaster of facing the same crisis ever again.
They want XYZ to develop a HR Management System that would suggest and
encourage digitization and create a balance between optimal human warehouses
and strategically increase their efficiencies. The client is very competitive
but is pro people also. For understanding the organizational need
strategically, a research roadmap is created. As a part of that, Ashish is
required to develop, execute and present a comprehensive human resource
strategy that must be presented to the top management team.
a) Identify the various HR functions which Ashish can include in his
presentation for representing the HR strategy and why?
b) How do you think Ashish can convince the client for improving the
organization’s ability to attract and keep talented employees?
Operations
Management
1. MegaMart stands out as a prominent retail chain celebrated for its
online grocery shopping platform, renowned for its strong inventory management
system. Delve into MegaMart's unique approach compared to traditional
brick-and-mortar stores, outlining prevalent inventory management techniques in
the retail sector. Furthermore, explore MegaMart's inventory management system,
detailing its core components and strategies aimed at enhancing operational
efficiency and customer contentment.
2. Explain the core principle of the Theory of Constraints (TOC) and its
pivotal role in streamlining manufacturing operations. Considering a suitable
example, describe the key principles of the TOC philosophy and its application
in synchronous manufacturing to refine production scheduling. Furthermore,
illustrate the effectiveness of Drum-Buffer-Rope (DBR) methodology in improving
system efficiency, minimizing lead times, and increasing throughput within
manufacturing settings, using any industry of your choice.
3. Quality management holds paramount importance in upholding patient
satisfaction and safety within a large multi-specialty hospital. Quality
management tools serve as indispensable assets in attaining operational
excellence and upholding the highest standards of healthcare services.
Furthermore, the operations manager assumes a pivotal role in overseeing
quality control efforts.
a. Explain the operations manager's responsibility in instituting and
supervising quality control measures within the hospital.
b. Discuss the multiple dimensions of quality pertinent to the
healthcare sector, elucidating how each dimension enhances overall patient care
and experience.
Strategic
Management
Q1. You are the CEO of a bank which has a profitable consumer banking
division. Do you think the bank should sell out a profitable business like
this? What according to you could be the reasons for a retrenchment strategy?
If you were the strategy advisor to the bank, would you advise the bank for
such a move?
Q2. The ISL is India’s leading football league but lately, it is
struggling with issues such as sponsorship and viewership. What could be the
reasons for this lack of interest in sponsors, according to you? What
strategies would you recommend to the league management to increase consumer
engagement, if you were its strategy consultant?
Q3. WPP became a global advertising behemoth because of its relentless
acquisition strategy. This has led to its global dominance. In such a scenario:
a. a. If you were the owner of a small full-service advertising agency
then what strategies would you adopt to compete with the big players like WPP.
b. b. In your opinion is advertising relevant to marketing anymore?
Analyze the complexities of Marketing communications in the post pandemic era.
Can AI be solely depended on to solve all the marketing problems or would you
still need human intervention while reaching out to the consumers?
International HR Practices
1. GloTech Solutions,
a New York-based technology consulting firm specializing in large scale IT
infrastructure projects, is planning to establish a regional headquarters in
Tokyo, Japan. To spearhead this initiative, a team of 12 IT consultants from
the United States and 3 from Germany, including a senior project director from
Germany, will relocate to Tokyo. What are the pre-departure and post arrival
training HR should plan for the team? What could be the top 3 challenges you as
HR Manager expect after the movement is completed to Tokyo?
2. XYZ limited is
a leading bicycle manufacturing company from Ludhiana, India and now coming up
new offices in Europe and Australia continent. The management set to
standardize the performance management policies in new international offices of
the company. How should performance metrics be standardized to ensure fairness
and compatibility across different international offices? What challenges might
arise in the collection and analysis of performance data from diverse
locations?
3. GreenWave
Solutions, a startup headquartered in pune, India, Specializes in eco- friendly
water purification systems. Known for their innovative and sustainable
technology, they have gained attention from clients both in India and
internationally. Recently, they secured a 15 year contract to supply their
systems to a new green initiative in Berlin, Germany. As part of the contact,
they need to employ 2 engineers, 3 quality assurance experts, 2 supply chain
managers and 1 customer support manager at the client’s headquarters in Berlin.
GreenWave Solutions has decided to recruit local candidates in Germany to
comply with local employment laws and reduce costs. You ate an HR consultant
tasked with facilitating this international expansion.
a) What are the
key challenges and considerations in recruiting, selecting and managing local
talent in Berlin, Germany you may come across? Elaborate your answer by keeping
the scenario in mind.
b) What strategies
you will plan to attract skilled local talent in a competitive job market with
limited brand recognition?
Strategic HRM
1. Think of two
managers who have trained you - one whom you consider very good and one whom
you consider a poor manager. What specific behaviours distinguish the two
managers? In your opinion what is the best source of obtaining training
performance data for appraising performance of managers? What are the merits
and demerits of appraisal of managers by students?
2. Do you think
that the compensation and rewards strategy of a high technology firm will be
different from that of an emerging fast-growing firm? Why? Enumerate your
answer giving examples.
3. Mind Space
Technology Solutions is a medium-sized technology company that specializes in
software development. The company has experienced rapid growth in recent years,
expanding its customer base and entering new markets. However, with this growth
came challenges related to performance management, particularly in evaluating
and developing its workforce. Mind Space Technology Solutions is struggling with
its performance evaluation process, which is perceived by employees as
subjective and unfair. The current system relies heavily on annual performance
reviews, which are often rushed and lack meaningful feedback. The HR department
is tasked with revamping the performance evaluation process to make it more
objective, transparent, and aligned with the company's strategic goals. There
is a lack of alignment between employee goals and organizational goals at Mind
Space Technology Solutions. Many employees are unclear about how their
individual contributions impact the company's overall success. The HR
department is tasked with developing a system to cascade organizational goals
down to individual employees and ensure that everyone is working towards common
objectives. Mind space Technology Solutions recognizes the importance of
employee development in retaining top talent and staying competitive. However,
the company's current approach to employee development is ad-hoc and lacks a
structured framework. The HR department is tasked with developing a
comprehensive employee development program that includes training, mentoring,
and career planning.
a) What role can
technology play in improving the performance evaluation process, and what are
the potential benefits and drawbacks.
b) How should Mind
Space Technology Solutions communicate organizational goals to employees to
ensure alignment with individual goals.
Capital market and portfolio management
Q1. There are
different users of financial statements like supplier, customer, investors etc.
It is very necessary to check all financial statements & to do proper
analysis before taking any business decision. Fundamental analysis is very
helpful to understand company’s financial status. Elaborate different types of
fundamental analysis which are necessary while taking any kind of business
decision.
Q2. An efficient
market is one that rapidly and completely possesses all the information related
to the prices of the assets. In this market, stock prices cannot be change with
rumors' that are not verified by investors. Efficient market theory is
classified in to four categories elaborate it.
Q3. a.) Suppose
the expected return from the market is 15%. The risk-free rate is 5% & beta
for the stock is 1.5. Find the expected return for the stock.
b.) Capital Asset
Pricing Model is a financial model used to rate risky securities, which examine
the link between risk & return. CAPM helps to calculate the expected rate
of return for an asset or investment. But CAPM have some disadvantages explain
those limitations.
Cost and management accounting
Q1. The following
is the summary of the receipts and issues of material in a factory during
December 2007.
Prepare Store Ledger according to First In First Out Method.
December 2007
• Opening balance
500 units @ Rs.25 per unit
• Issue 70 units
• Issue 100 units
• 8. Issue 80
units
• 13. Received
from supplier 200 units @ Rs.24.50 per unit
• 14. Returned to
store 15 units @ Rs.24 per unit
• 16. Issue 180
units.
• 20. Received
from supplier 240 units @ Rs.24.75 per unit
• 24. Issue 304
units.
• 25. Received
from supplier 320 units @ Rs.24.50 per unit
• 26. Issue 112
units
• 27. Returned to
store 12 units @ Rs.24.50 per unit
• 28. Received
from supplier 100 units @ Rs.25 per unit
It was revealed that
on 15th there was a shortage of five units and another on 27th of 8 units.
Q2. The
anticipated material expense for project D-2 totals Rs. 5,000, with an expected
direct labor cost of Rs. 1,000. In the machine shop, it necessitates 20 hours
of machining by Machine No. 8 and 6 hours by Machine No. 11. The machine hour
rates for Machine No. 8 and Machine No. 11 stand at Rs. 10 and Rs. 15
respectively. Last fiscal year, direct wages summed up to Rs. 80,000, while
factory overheads (excluding those associated with Machine No. 8 and 11)
amounted to Rs. 48,000. Similarly, the collective factory cost of all projects
last year equaled Rs. 2,50,000, with office expenses reaching Rs. 37,500. To
incorporate a 20% profit margin on the selling price, a quotation statement
needs to be prepared.
Q3. A) How can you
install a system of costing in a biscuit producing factory? What are the
possible difficulties in installing such system?
B) Financial
Accounting procedures are generally designed to ascertain the periodic profit
or loss, but there are important limitations and deficiencies in the
system." Discuss.
Employee development and talent management
Q1. Since 6 years when Rahul Sumant had joined Acme Inc., he had been
applying many approaches to employee development. He was successful in
retaining most of the talent and saw good results. However, management always
showed mild disappointment towards the overall growth rate of the organization.
They expected more prominent sales advancement and growth. Rahul decides to use
360 degrees appraisal as a new initiative. Please discuss the concept of 360
degrees appraisal and how it will contribute to finding the root cause for
slower growth at Acme.
Q2. Apex Tech was at its peak performance in the financial market when
the charismatic founder, Ashutosh, collapsed suddenly on one of his business
trips. His employees felt lost, his customers were left confused. There were
constant phone calls enquiring about the status of various projects going on
resulting in great uncertainty since no one but only Ashutosh was aware of all
the required facts. Every other employee knew only part of every project. The
company struggled to keep the nose above the water until Ashutosh was back on
his feet and realised his mistake that he has not developed any succession plan
for his growing business. What Issues do you think lack of succession planning
might cause?
Q3. SolarCity is a start-up that has grown quickly with awareness of
solar powered equipment. Growing from 20 to 120 within a span of 1 year 4
months, the director, Gautam wants to set up a performance management system.
Additional information, the organization has flat hierarchy currently with
Gautam and his 2 partners spear heading core departments.
a. Gautam wants to implement Human Asset Accounting method at the start
of the process. Please explain the concept and justify if this would be an
appropriate method of SolarCity?
b. One of Gautam’s partners thinks, MBO would be an appropriate method.
Please elaborate your opinion on this thought.
Marketing of financial services
Q1. If a Bank want
to categorize various Insurance Services for its various of Clients including
HNI to Middle Income Groups as well as from Youth to Senior Citizen. In what
direction respective Banks can demarcate Insurance Plans into various Types?
Explain different Types of Insurance Plans fragmentation by Commercial Banks
towards its Clients.
Q2. If a Scheduled
Commercial Bank is opening its New Branch at Tier II City. Its conducting a
Market Research with instrumental of respective 8 important P’s Factors of
Marketing of Bank – Financial services. Kindly elaborate those any important 6
P’s from Marketing Head pt. of view.
Q3 a) If a Senior
Professional Aged 55 is planning for his retirement, what important 3-4 factors
to be pondered upon from his Age 55 to 60 last 5 Years? Elaborate Paradigm.
Q3 b) In case if a
research agency is trying to understand particular geographical Marketing
environment for Financial Services Marketing, which particular factors it would
ponder upon at Foundation level? Kindly elaborate.
Strategic cost management
1) ABC Ltd. produces 3 products A, B & C. The following data is
available for the year ended 31st March 2023.
Product A Product B Product C
Production Qty (Units) 4,000 3,000 1,600
Total Machine hours for production 60 30
20
Resources Per Unit -
Direct Material (Kgs) 4
6 3
Direct Labour (Mins) 30
45 60
Cost of Labour is Rs. 10 per hour and material cost Rs. 2/kg. Production
Overheads (Fixed) were Rs. 99,450. ABC Ltd. used Traditional Costing method and
absorbed the Overheads to products based on Labour hour rate. It is now
considering to adopt Activity Based Costing method. The following information
was digged out and analysed by the Cost Accountant. Overheads were comprised of
the following: Material Handling Rs. 29,100, Storage Costs Rs. 31,200 and Power
Cost Rs. 39,150. Further the area occupied for storage of materials was in the
ratio of 2:1:3. Prepare Cost sheet showing Unit cost and Total cost of each
product using both Traditional Costing and ABC methodology.
2) Sitaram Ltd. is an ice cream manufacturer company. Its current
revenue is Rs. 650,000 a month and a 40% contribution margin. Its fixed costs
are Rs. 200,000. Ghanshyam Ltd. is another player in the ice cream business
with a current sales of Rs. 420,000 and a 30% contribution margin. Its fixed
costs are Rs. 90,000.
a) What is the margin of safety for Sitaram and Ghanshyam Ltd? Compare
the margin of safety in value between the two companies. Which is stronger?
b) Compare the margin of safety in percentage between the two companies.
Now which one is stronger?
c) Prepare a budget for both companies showing their estimated profit at
the current levels and at 75% of the current capacity. State your observations
with respect to the Profit/Loss levels in both situations and their relation to
Margin of Safety percentage
3) a) Precision Limited is motor manufacturer. The company currently
produces three different models of motors. It also produces all the blades of
the motors as it requires. The requirement is of 3 different blades for each
motor model (i.e. 9 different blades). Precision Limited received a proposal
from a supplier who wants to sell the company blades for the motors line. The
supplier would charge Rs. 25 per blade, regardless of blade type. For the next
year the Company has projected the costs of its own blade production as follows
(based on projected volume of 10,000 units):
Direct materials Rs.
75,000
Direct labour Rs.
65,000
Variable overhead Rs.
55,000
Fixed overhead
Factory supervision Rs.
35,000
Other fixed cost Rs.
65,000
Total production costs Rs.
2,95,000
Assume:
(1) the equipment utilized to produce the blades has no alternative use
and no market value,
(2) the space occupied by blade production will remain idle if the
company purchases rather than makes the blades, and
(3) factory supervision costs reflects the salary of a production
supervisor who would be dismissed from the firm if blade production is ceased.
Determine the net profit or loss if the blades are purchased rather than
manufactured.
b) Priya Motors is planning to coming up with a new electric car. The
promotor of the company has been conducting research in this field on and off
for the past 2 years. The approximate amount spent on the R&D till date is
Rs. 2 lacs. The cost of production of the vehicle is estimated to be Rs. 3
lacs. Marketing and promotional expenses are to the tune of Rs. 50,000. Based
on prior experience, car has a after sales service expenses of Rs. 25,000 on an
average during its life time. Being an electric car the cost is estimated lower
at Rs. 20,000. If the company wants to earn a profit margin of Rs. 40,000 per
car, at what price should Priya Motors price it? (Time value of money is ignored)
What is the approach used for costing the car? Considering the stage of the
product, what should be the considerations for spending on the following costs:
a) Advertisement b) Maintenance cost.
Organisational Theory, Structure and
Design
1. Analyze the
utility of a line structure in an organisation. Explain which types of
companies would prefer this structure. Evaluate the pros and cons of this
structure. Give examples as required. (10 Marks)
2. It is said that
there is no magic formula for choosing the correct organizational structure.
However, its suitability should be determined based on certain features.
Evaluate the importance of each feature and add suitable examples wherever
needed. (10 Marks)
3. The external
environment of a business is measured by a system called the PESTLE analysis
which gives a holistic overview of all the associated contextual aspects
influencing it. In the above context, explain with the help of suitable
examples:
a. Evaluate the
different relevant concepts of the external environment that help in strategy
building. (5 Marks)
b. Discuss the
systems or approaches through which information can be collected regarding the
external environment. (5 Marks)
Sales management
1. Glow Company, a
leading manufacturer of premium skincare products, is looking to develop
sales-related marketing policies to enhance its market presence & drive
revenue growth. As the marketing manager, you’ve been tasked with proposing a
set of policies that align with the company's strategic objectives & market
dynamics. Identify & justify three sales-related marketing policies that
Glow Company could implement to increase its sales performance & market
share in the skincare industry. (10 Marks)
2. As a sales
manager for a growing technology company, you’ve been tasked with expanding
your sales team to meet increasing demand for your products. Describe a
practical situation where you would apply effective recruitment & selection
strategies in your sales department. (10 Marks)
3. Read the case
& answer the questions based on the case:
Background:
You are a real
estate agent representing a seller who owns a luxurious waterfront property.
The property has been on the market for several months without any offers, and
the seller is getting anxious to close a deal. The asking price is $1.5
million, but there has been little interest from potential buyers.
Client
Information:
Seller: Mr.
Johnson, a retired businessman who is motivated to sell due to personal
reasons.
Property Details:
A 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom waterfront home with a private dock and stunning views.
Market Conditions:
The real estate market is competitive, and there are similar properties
available in the area, though none with the same unique features.
Challenges:
The property has
been on the market for a while without attracting serious offers.
Similar properties
in the area are priced slightly lower.
Mr. Johnson is
emotionally attached to the property and is hesitant to lower the asking price.
Objectives:
Secure a buyer for
the property within the next 60 days.
Negotiate a deal
that satisfies both the buyer and Mr. Johnson.
a) Explain various
Sales related marketing strategies (5 Marks)
b) What
Negotiation tactics will you adopt to close the deal? (5 Marks)
Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital
Management
1. Imagine you are
the CEO of a traditional retail company facing stiff competition from
e-commerce giants. How can innovation play a role in revitalizing your business
and staying competitive? (10 Marks)
2. Your startup is
looking to expand globally. How can you identify a venture capitalist with a
global network and experience in international markets to support your growth
aspirations?
(10 Marks)
3. You are a
social entrepreneur working on improving access to clean water and sanitation
in developing countries.
a. How can you
collaborate with NGOs to create sustainable infrastructure and behavior change
initiatives? (5 Marks)
b. Explain the
pros and cons of the appropriate model of social entrepreneurship. (5 Marks)
Digital marketing
DesiBazaar is an
e-commerce company based in Bengaluru, Karnataka, specializing in quirky,
Indianized products. Founded in 2020 by young entrepreneurs Priya Sharma and
Kunal Verma, DesiBazaar aims to bring a modern twist to traditional Indian
culture through unique and innovative products. The company quickly gained
popularity due to its distinctive offerings and vibrant brand personality.
Products:
Funky Home Decor: Products
include colorful cushions with Indian motifs, hand-painted kettles and trays,
and wall hangings featuring Bollywood posters and famous Indian landmarks.
Fashion
Accessories: Includes jhumkas (traditional earrings) with a contemporary twist,
vibrant tote bags with Indian art prints, and quirky scarves and stoles
featuring popular Indian idioms and proverbs.
Stationery and
Office Supplies: Notebooks and planners with Bollywood dialogues, pens and
pencils shaped like traditional Indian instruments, and quirky desk organizers
inspired by Indian street vendors.
Kitchenware: Includes
spice boxes shaped like autorickshaws, mugs with regional dialects, and aprons
printed with famous Indian street food items.
Personal Care: Natural,
handcrafted soaps and lotions with Indian herbs, quirky bathrobes with
traditional Indian prints, and aromatic candles infused with Indian spices.
DesiBazaar
operates through an online platform, catering to customers across India. The
company has a warehouse in Bengaluru where products are stored, packed, and
shipped. DesiBazaar partners with local artisans and manufacturers to source
its products, ensuring high quality and authenticity. DesiBazaar collaborates
with small-scale artisans and manufacturers to source unique products. The
company uses a robust logistics network to ensure timely delivery, leveraging
both traditional courier services and emerging hyperlocal delivery startups. DesiBazaar
adopts a competitive pricing strategy to attract a broad customer base while
maintaining a balance between affordability and quality. Eco-friendly packaging
is used to
minimize environmental impact,
aligning with the company’s commitment to sustainability. You
can make necessary assumptions while answering the questions.
1. As a consultant
to DesiBazaar suggest and explain the 8P’s for the business. (10 Marks)
2. Explain the seven
stages for setting up a marketing campaign management for DesiBazaar. (10
Marks)
3a. How will you
promote DesiBazaar online? (5 Marks)
3b. Create
and explain the
segmentation 2.0, targeting
2.0, and positioning
2.0 for DesiBazaar. (5 Marks)
Customer relationship management
1. You are the CIO
(Chief Information Officer) of your company. Your organization is planning to
implement Siebel CRM for managing your call center and the marketing campaigns
that your company runs. The management needs to be convinced about the Return
on Investment, advantages, and challenges that the organization would face
because of implementing CRM. How would you justify your case? (10 Marks)
2. Your company
manufactures mobile phones. This month you are coming with a path breaking
product, which is aimed at attracting customers who are below 25 years old.
Your companies focus on this market will remain for the next 2-3 years. How
will you persuade your existing and new customers to buy the new product? (10
Marks)
3. a) “CRM
implementation done right owes its success to the right definition of the
success criteria.” In context of this: How do you define success criteria of
CRM projects? (5 marks)
b) What are the
major challenges that you are likely to face while implementing CRM in your
organisation? (5 marks)
International marketing
1. India assumed
the presidency of the G20 grouping from Indonesia, on December 1, 2022, and
held the post for a year. This gave India a unique opportunity to contribute to
the global agenda on pressing issues of international importance. Discuss
the significance of hosting G20 in our country. (10 Marks)
2. Chinese brands
commanded 75% of India’s smartphone market in 2022, down from 76% in 2021. What
would be your strategy to promote and manufacture more of Indian brands in
India. Also express your opinion on the impact of iPhone manufacturing in
India. (10 Marks)
3. Read the
following case study carefully and then answer the questions that follow:
The concept of
product patent drugs for pharmaceutical products is likely to make life saving
medicines beyond the reach of the poor and deprived sections of society around
the world. A number of African countries have been worst hit by the specter of
AIDS. CIPLA an Indian pharmaceutical company, has offered to market anti aids
medicine, at one fourth the cost of what
is made by global
pharmaceutical firms. However, due to product
patent laws, substantial
controversy has been generated all over the world due ethical grounds.
a) In your opinion
is it right to deprive the needy sections of the society of the latest
scientific inventions crucial for saving human life. (5 Marks)
b) Suggest a
strategy how this problem can be solved so that every person on the planet can
get access to affordable medicine.? (5 Marks)
Business Communication
Q1. While Bill
Gates mentioned ‘Content is king’ in1996 in one of his essays, the new age
presenters believe and have realized that while content is the king audience is
the kingdom and hence the content king would need to behave as per the need of
the kingdom. Any business
communication course will
include an important
section covering Audience analysis topics. Considering this
thought, please share some actions that would lead to analyzing the audience
for business presentations. (10 Marks)
Q2. Shubha is a
manager in a large retail super store chain. She is heading the administration
department and is responsible for a large cluster of geography which covers 6
stores of the organization. Writing and analyzing reports is a big chunk of her
work, she is also involved in writing and analyzing proposals as a part of her
job. In light of this case, please compare the elements of Body and Close for a
proposal and report clearly. (10 Marks)
Q3. Prof. Bala is
a guide for international students for submitting their final thesis of PG
degrees. He reads a lot of academic reports during the day and knows by now
that the documents need to be edited to make them more concise and need to add
more clarity of concepts. Considering these points, answer the two questions
given below.
a) Share a few
tips for editing the documents to add more clarity of thoughts. (5 Marks)
Business economics
Q1. With the help of the concept of production
function. Briefly explain the Law of
Variable Proportions and Law of Returns to Scale. Elaborate your answer by
citing real world examples. (10 Marks)
Q2. Countries are
making every effort to cut back on their usage of petroleum products,
particularly gasoline, in light of the rising cost of crude oil. Results from
this will only become apparent over time. To cut down on the usage of private
automobiles, the majority of nations are working to increase public
transportation systems’ popularity. For the reasonably developed countries, the
income elasticity of spending on private vehicles has been calculated to be
approximately 2.5. Some nations, like India, are highly irritated that despite
fare reductions, there is no movement towards public transportation. The
following describes the user profile of the public transportation system:
They belong to the
middle and low income categories with income elasticity less than one and the
absolute value of price elasticity also less than one With the above given
statement, you are required to suggest your point logically as to why the
public transport is not becoming popular and why the use of private vehicles is
only continuing to increase. You can build your answer by keeping income
elasticity in mind and analysing it. (10
Marks)
Q3a. A corporation
in the USA that works in the telecommunications industry is called SNDL. Their
intention is to join the Indian telecom industry. Prior to entering the Indian
market, they would like to examine the market structure. They are doing this in
order to determine how much price power they may have in the Indian telecom
market. If you were giving them advice on the same thing, how would you go
about comprehending the structure of the market? Explain which test or
technique you would choose for determining the market concentration. (5 Marks)
Q3b. ABC Ltd sought to determine the nature of the
relationship between goods A and B, specifically if they are complementary or
substitutes. Regarding the price and quantity requested for commodities A and
B, the following information was available. The price of A remained unchanged,
but the price of B dropped from Rs 240 to Rs 200, which increased the demand
for A from 3500 to 4000 units. Determine the cross-elasticity of demand between
goods A and B, and then provide a commentary on the relationship between the
two goods based on the results. (5
Marks)
Information Systems for Managers
1. GNJ Jewellers
has now
its several branches
across different cities
in India. The Jewellers started from very small shop in
Mumbai and expanded their business in several years across India. Initially
when they started, they have appointed different personnels to keep a track of
jewelleries sold, orders given and inventory required. With the expansion of
business in different cities, GNJ Jewellers are now finding it difficult to
manage/ track the details at global level and to get an overview of Jewellery
details across all stores of various cities. They contacted a solution
providing firm to get solution of the same and were told to shift their
business to Cloud wherein, all the operations of different stores can be
monitored/detailed out very easily. Discuss how migrating to Cloud will help
GNJ Jewellers to smoothen up the process of monitoring/tracking details from
one location for other stores across various cities. Also, discuss which types
of cloud and cloud service will be suitable for their organization. (10 marks)
2. Mantra Edutech
has started its educational institute which provides certification courses
related to various IT skill-based programs. They have setup their educational
setup in offline mode in New Delhi. The institute has several departments such
as admission, finance, academics, examination, HR etc. Mantra Edutech is
finding it difficult to manage the operations of its institute manually, hence
they need to automate the activities of all the departments. Discuss , how
technology can help them in integrating and automating the activities of all
the departments. Also, highlight 5 key benefits. (10 marks)
3. Xrbian
Technology Solutions is new IT Company with the motive of providing solutions
to different Organisations by catering to their specific product requirements.
The company has been assigned a project development task that is relatively
straightforward, with clear requirements. As a new venture, this organization
is not fully aware of the different vulnerabilities and threats. Considering
the above scenario, discuss and suggest various options for the following:
a) What can be the
various threats and vulnerabilities that Xrbian Technology Solutions may face ?
What security measures can Xrbian Technology Solutions adopt to respond to
these threats and vulnerabilities ? (5 marks)
b) Discuss various
software Development Life Cycle models Xrbian Technology Solutions can use for
development of the Project. Support your answer with examples. State any
assumptions made (for the project and the company). (5 marks)
Financial Accounting & Analysis
Q1. Company ABC, a
manufacturing company, is preparing its cash flow statement forthe fiscal year
ending December 31, 2023. The company experienced various cash inflows and
outflows during the year from its operating, investing, and financing
activities. Based on the provided data, calculate the net cash provided by operating
activities, investing activities, and financing activities for Company ABC for
the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. Additionally, determine the net
increase or decrease incash and cash equivalents for the period.
Category Amount (₹)
Net Income ₹500,000
Depreciation
Expense ₹100,000
Increase in
Accounts Receivable ₹50,000
Decrease in
Inventory (₹30,000)
Increase in
Accounts Payable ₹20,000
Purchase of
Property, Plant, and (₹200,000)
Equipment
Proceeds from
Issuance of 3,00,000
Long-term Debt
Repayment of
Long-term Debt (₹150,000)
Payment of
Dividends (₹50,000)
Beginning Cash and
Cash Equivalents ₹400,000
Instructions:
Calculate the net
cash provided by operating activities using the indirect method.
Determine the net
cash used in investing activities.
Determine the net
cash provided by financing activities.
Calculate the net
increase or decrease in cash and cash equivalents.
Provide the final
cash flow statement for Company ABC for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2023, showing the net cash provided by (or used in) each category and the net
increase or decrease in cash and cash equivalents.
Note: Assume all
transactions are cash transactions unless otherwise specified and use the
indirect method for operating activities.
(10 Marks)
Q2. DEF Pvt. Ltd.
is considering introducing a new product line. Conduct a cost- volume- profit
(CVP) analysis on hypothetical data (per unit basis) to determine the breakeven
point and assess the profitability of the new product. Discuss the implications
of your analysis on the company’s decision-making process. (You can present the
answer with the help of hypothetical data if required) (10 Marks)
Q3.(A) Compare and
contrast ratio analysis with other techniques of financial analysis. Provide
examples of situations where each technique would be most appropriate and
discuss the insights, they offer to stakeholders in assessing a company’s financial
performance and position. (5 Marks)
(B) You are a
newly appointed financial analyst at a manufacturing company, tasked with
preparing the balance sheet for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. As
part of your role, you need to identify and explain the basic concepts
underlying the preparation of the balance sheet. Additionally, you are required
to discuss the key components of a balance sheet and their role in portraying
the financial position of a company.
(5 Marks)
Project management
1. What is a
project charter? Develop a project charter for Bhubaneswar Metro-rail project
and discuss the typical elements of the charter. (10 marks)
2. India is
planning to bid to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Construct a WBS
(Work break-down structure) for the project. (10 marks)
3. Budget 2024
raised the allocation for the Road Ministry marginally to ₹2.78 lakh crore from
Rs 2.7 lakh crore. Out of the outlay, ₹1.68 lakh crore is earmarked for
investment in NHAI for the development of national highway corridors under
Bharatmala Pariyojana.
a) Explain the
various characteristics of Bharatmala Pariyojana. (5 marks)
Discuss in brief
the different activities to be executed during the project life cycle of the
Bharatmala Pariyojana project. (5 marks)
Consumer behaviour
1. Go to website
www.tirabeauty.com. Assume you are the Marketing Manager at Tira which is planning
to launch a new line of luxury perfumes for women in the higher middle-class
segment – women who want to use big brands but cannot always afford to use them
so they buy a mix of highly branded and home-grown luxury perfume brands.
You’re aware of the principles of classical conditioning and its potential
impact on consumer behavior. How would you apply classical conditioning
techniques to create a favorable association between your perfume and positive
emotions in potential buyers? (10 Marks)
2. North India
experiences extreme climates – typically states of Rajasthan, MP, UP, Bihar,
Jharkhand, Delhi, etc have very hot summers and very cold winters. Many people
in these states use air-conditioners in summer and radiation heaters in winter
to fight the extremes of climates. Now a major consumer durable company has
introduced a combined air- conditioner cum heater so that consumers do not have
to buy 2 appliances like the AC and a heater. A single appliance can now work
both as an air-conditioner cum heater. Using the model of Diffusion of
Innovation explain the different product parameters that will influence the
consumer acceptance of the combined air-conditioning cum heating unit. (10
Marks)
3. Answer the
following
a) How would a
child influence the choice of product in the family? Take a product of your
choice and explain how a marketer can get across to a child in order to make
the child influence his/her family to buy that product. (5 Marks)
b) What is
classical conditioning in Consumer Behaviour. Mother’s Recipe has a range of
“Ready to Cook” products. It is planning to launch a new category – the
favourite Indian Meal called “Khichdi” under the “Ready to Cook” range. There
will be a variety of Khichdi’s from different areas of India available to the
consumer. How can Mother’s Recipe use the principle of Classical Conditioning
to popularize the range of Khichdis it is planning in the market. (5 Marks)
Marketing strategy
Pack & Voyage
is a rising online retailer specializing in innovative and stylish luggage
solutions for the modern traveler. They offer a curated selection of
high-quality suitcases, backpacks, duffel bags, and travel accessories designed
for functionality, durability, and a touch of contemporary flair.
Pack & Voyage
leverages a mix of online and offline marketing tactics. Their strategy
includes:
Social Media
Marketing: Active presence on Instagram and Facebook showcasing product
features, travel inspiration, and user-generated content.
Influencer
Marketing: Partnering with travel bloggers and social media personalities to
promote their products and reach a wider audience.
Content Marketing:
Creating blog posts and articles offering travel tips, packing hacks, and
product reviews.
Paid
Advertising: Utilizing targeted online
advertising campaigns to reach specific customer segments.
Email Marketing:
Engaging with customers through email newsletters with product updates,
promotions, and travel inspiration.
Physical Retail
Presence: Limited partnerships with select travel-focused retail stores to
showcase products and offer a tangible touchpoint.
Challenges:
The luggage
industry is highly competitive, with established brands and budget retailers
vying for market share. Pack & Voyage needs to differentiate their brand
and showcase their unique value proposition more effectively.
While their social
media presence is active, they might not be weaving a compelling brand story
that resonates with target travelers. Connecting emotionally with the audience
beyond product features is crucial.
Pack & Voyage
is a relatively new player compared to established brands. Building brand
awareness and recognition requires a more strategic and integrated marketing
approach.
Their current
strategy focuses more heavily on online channels. Developing a more seamless
omnichannel experience that integrates online and offline touchpoints can
enhance customer engagement and brand perception. While they utilize online
advertising, leveraging customer data effectively for personalization and
targeted campaigns can improve conversion rates and overall marketing
effectiveness. Pack & Voyage has a strong foundation with its focus on
innovative and stylish luggage. To accelerate growth and gain a competitive
edge, they need to refine their marketing strategy by focusing on brand
storytelling, building awareness, and creating a seamless omnichannel
experience. By harnessing the power of data and personalization, Pack &
Voyage can position itself as the go-to brand for discerning travelers seeking
a blend of functionality, style, and an exceptional travel experience. (You can
make necessary assumptions wherever applicable while answering the questions)
Q1. Explain
various stages of the evolution of marketing and relate every stage with the
Pack & Voyage Business. (10 Marks)
Q2. Explain the
7P’s of Marketing for the brand Pack & Voyage. (10 Marks)
Q3a. As a
consultant to the company, explain the 5P’s of strategy for Pack & Voyage
to the management. (5 Marks)
b) As a
consultant, explain the concept of Segmentation and Target Market for the brand
Pack & Voyage. (5 Marks)
Brand management
Rajiv Mehra, a
passionate entrepreneur with a background in fashion and retail, is planning to
start a retail chain business specializing in ethnic wear from various regions
of India. His vision is to create a brand that brings the richness of Indian
culture to the forefront through beautifully crafted ethnic garments. The
business aims to be a leading retail chain offering a wide range of ethnic wear
for men, women, and children. The stores will be located in major cities and
towns across India, catering to both everyday wear and special occasions like
weddings and festivals.
Products:
Sarees:
Kanjivaram from
Tamil Nadu (Price: ₹2,000 – ₹20,000) Banarasi from Uttar Pradesh (Price: ₹3,000
– ₹25,000) Paithani from Maharashtra (Price: ₹5,000 – ₹30,000) Chanderi from
Madhya Pradesh (Price: ₹1,500 – ₹10,000)
Salwar Kameez:
Phulkari from
Punjab (Price: ₹1,500 – ₹8,000) Bandhani from Gujarat (Price: ₹1,000 – ₹6,000)
Chikankari from Lucknow (Price: ₹2,000 – ₹15,000)
Lehengas:
Zardozi from
Rajasthan (Price: ₹10,000 – ₹50,000) Mirror work from Gujarat (Price: ₹5,000 –
₹30,000)
Kashmiri
embroidery from Jammu and Kashmir (Price: ₹8,000 – ₹40,000)
Kurtas and
Sherwanis:
Handloom kurtas
from West Bengal (Price: ₹1,500 – ₹10,000) Silk sherwanis from Karnataka
(Price: ₹5,000 – ₹30,000)
Accessories:
Dupattas, stoles,
and shawls with regional embroidery (Price: ₹500 – ₹5,000)
Traditional
jewellery and footwear (Price: ₹1,000 – ₹10,000)
Segmentation,
Targeting, and Positioning (STP):
Demographic: Age:
18-60 years Gender: All genders
Income: Middle to
upper-middle class
Occupation:
Working professionals, homemakers, students, and business owners
Psychographic:
Lifestyle:
Fashion-conscious, culturally inclined, and socially active individuals
Interests:
Traditional fashion, cultural events, and heritage crafts
Behavioral:
Purchase Behavior:
Regular shoppers of ethnic wear, occasional buyers for special events
Usage: Daily wear,
festive wear, and wedding wear
The business
targets urban and semi-urban middle to upper-middle-class consumers who
appreciate traditional Indian attire. These customers value quality,
craftsmanship, and cultural authenticity. The brand will also cater to NRIs and
international customers through an online store. However, Rajiv is facing
several dilemmas regarding the brand name, logo, domain name, and other
branding challenges. He hires you as a consultant to address challenges in the
area of Branding. You can make necessary assumptions while answering the
questions.
Q1. As the brand
consultant, you’ve been tasked with developing various brand elements,
including the brand name for Rajiv Mehra’s business. Elaborate with the reasoning
of various elements that you will suggest Rajiv. (10 Marks
Q2. Create and
explain the brand resonance model for Rajiv’s Business covering six brand
building blocks. (10 Marks)
Q3. As a brand in
charge, explain to your team the given points:
a) Explain five
levels of product for the business. (5 Marks)
b) What are the
various types of risk that consumers may perceive while buying and consuming
the product from Rajiv’s Business? (5 Marks)
Operations and supply chain strategies
1. Mr. Ranga is a
store manager at Pmart Ltd one of the leading retail firm. To penetrate the
market, he was using a low-price strategy. Due to competition, he also plans to
use technology in the supply chain to reduce the cost. In such a scenario,
every business requires some competitive edge to sustain in the market. Discuss
different supply chain drivers with Mr. Ranga that ultimately helps Mega Mart
to enable the entire supply chain. (10 Marks)
2. Your artisanal
ice cream company produces small batches of unique flavours sold in local shops.
A large supermarket chain wants to carry your top five flavours nationwide,
requiring a consistent and high volume of production. Considering your current
small-batch production process, how would you adapt to fulfill this order?
Would you switch to a mass production or continuous production process, or
choose another method? Explain your decision, taking into account factors such
as maintaining product quality, scaling up production, cost efficiency, and
logistical challenges in distributing your ice cream across a national market.
(10 Marks)
Nikaa Ltd is
leading e commerce company sells beauty, wellness and fashion products through
its website, mobile app, and over physical stores. Company holds items bought
directly from manufacturers in its warehouses, where they are supplied whenever
there are online or offline purchases. Due to high demand company is not able
to concentrate on the core business. E-commerce business has experienced
significant growth, leading to challenges in managing inventory, order fulfilment,
and timely deliveries. You are considering partnering with a third-party
logistics provider to handle these logistics functions.
a) How would you
evaluate the decision to outsource to a 3PL? Discuss the potential benefits and
risks, including cost savings, efficiency improvements, loss of direct control
over logistics, and potential impacts on customer satisfaction. (5 Marks)
b) What criteria
would you use to select a 3PL provider, and how would you ensure a smooth
transition to maintain service quality during this change? (5 Marks)
Enterprise resource planning
Q.1 Maketyre is a
tyre manufacturing company which makes tyres for various tyoes of
vehicles. With the vast growing business
across the Country, they decided to implement ERP system in their organization.
Discuss the various factors for successful ERP implementation which Maketyre
will follow and explain the challenges which Maketyre may face while ERP
implementation. (10 marks)
Q2. Thakur Das
Jewellers are into gem business based in Mumbai. Thakur Das Jewellers have
expanded their branches with in different cities and have various departments
such as Finance, Sales, Purchase etc. With the extending number of business
processes, discuss using which technology Thakur Das Jewellers can integrate
their processes to smoothen and streamline the business processes of their
business. Discuss the features of Finance, Sales and Purchase modules with
reference to the gem business of Thakur Das Jewellers. (10 marks)
Q.3 PeopleCare
Technology is new IT Company with the motive of providing solutions to
different Organisations by catering to their specific product requirements.
They have decided to implement SAP software in their organization to integrate
the various business processes and to enhance the efficiency of the
organization. Considering the above scenario, discuss the following:
a) Discuss the
benefits of SAP implementation by PeopleCare Technology. (5 marks)
b) Discuss the
SAP architecture which
PeopleCare Technology has
used for implementation. (5
marks)
Performance management system
1. Carspares Ltd
is a four-wheeler spare parts company which was founded in 2020. The company
has 200 employees and provides online spare parts (example car engine parts,
windows, second hand accessories etc.) for vehicles across India. Recently the
company has also opened 4 showrooms in key locations in India for offline sale
of vehicle spare parts. You are the HR Manager of the company and you need to
prepare an HR Score Card consisting of four key HR objectives and performance
indicators. (10 Marks)
2. Anandan works
as a Sales Executive in a Shoe manufacturing company. He has been working in
the company since the past 14 months. His performance appraisal process has
commenced and he is being rated with the BARs method. Using the Behaviourally
Anchored Rating Scale (BARs) prepare a format that covers the criteria of
“Customer Service” and “Listening to the customer”. (10 Marks)
3. Prepare 2
performance objectives each using the SMART principles for the following job
profiles
a) Admin Manager
in a company in the hotel industry. (5 Marks)
Procurement management
1. GeoLinks is a
medium-sized supply chain
management company that operates
in e- commerce industry. Describe
the evolution of e-procurement, including its various stages and technological
advancements and explain how understanding this evolution can guide GeoLinks in
developing a robust e-procurement strategy. Also, recommend pricing models that
GeoLinks can adopt to ensure competitiveness and profitability in the
e-procurement marketplace. (10 Marks)
2. XYZ Infra is a
construction company specializing in large-scale infrastructure projects. The
company often engages in contracts with government agencies to build roads,
bridges, and public facilities. Evaluate the factors that XYZ Infra should
consider when determining its pricing strategies to manage and negotiate
government influences on pricing while maintaining a fair and mutually
beneficial partnership. Also, suggest a contingency plan and contractual
clauses that XYZ Infra should include to mitigate risks associated with
contract cancellations and unexpected project disruptions. (10 Marks)
3. GeoTronics is a
multinational electronics company that sources components and materials from
various countries for its manufacturing operations. It wants to source a wide
range of products from multiple suppliers of south Asia and distribute them to
various markets in the gulf.
a) Explain the
legal authority and responsibilities of a purchasing manager and discuss the
importance of ethical considerations in global sourcing decisions for
GeoTronics. (5 Marks)
b) Describe
different methods of global sourcing that GeoTronics can adopt to procure
products from international suppliers and outline the factors that they should
consider when evaluating potential global suppliers. (5 Marks)
Total quality management
1. As a leader of
new product development team, you are asked by the management of your
organization to comprehend the expectation of the customers and design product
and services in view of that. Discuss a valuable methodology you would adopt
that can significantly enhance the new product development process and thereby
meet customer satisfaction. (10 Marks)
2. You are
appointed as head of quality department and told it is utmost priority for your
department to monitor defects and control quality. Discuss the seven basic
quality control tools which may help your department in controlling quality and
minimizing defects. Give examples for each tool. (10 Marks)
3. After entering
global market, Maxx Industry which had implemented TQM, wants to change from
its traditional performance measure based on cost accounting information to
performance measured against the result delivered to customers. In TQM,
measuring performance requires a conceptual framework.
a) Discuss the
criteria Maxx Industry should follow for measuring and evaluating performance
under TQM framework. (5 Marks)
b) Explain the
four perspectives based on which Strategic Performance Measurement (SPM) is
measured. (5 Marks)
International Business
1. Whether or not
you produce and sell goods internationally, international business impacts
every organization. In light of this statement what in your opinion are the
various challenges a firm will face while embarking to International Business.
(10 Marks)
2. While investing
in India what is the significance of the role of FII and FDI. How in your
opinion does India benefits when Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), and FII
invest in India? (10 Marks)
3. Read the
following case study carefully and then answer the questions that follow:
The crisis in
Ukraine has created a humanitarian crisis of immense proportions and has also
dealt a severe blow to the global economy. The brunt of the suffering and
destruction are being felt by the people of Ukraine themselves but the costs in
terms of reduced trade and output are likely to be felt by people around the
world through higher food and energy prices and reduced availability of goods
exported by Russia and Ukraine. Poorer countries are at high risk from the war,
since they tend to spend a larger fraction of their incomes on food compared to
richer countries. This could impact political stability. The WTO has an
important role to play in mitigating the negative effects of the crisis and in
rebuilding a post-war global economy. It is important for the international
trade and development community to better understand, analyze and monitor the
nature, magnitude and spill-over effects of the war on trade and development
for developing countries and vulnerable segments, and to assist countries in
coordinating trade policy responses. Only with a clear understanding of these
impacts, will it be possible to create robust supply chains, to limit further
trade and development losses and to avert deepening inequalities between
developed and developing countries.
a) What in your
opinion should the WTO take steps to provide an impetus to trade in that has
disrupted trade due to the Ukraine-Russia war? (5 Marks)
b) Explain Global
macroeconomic and trade effects of war and what are the ways that WTO can
mitigate the problem. (5 Marks)
Compensation
and benefits
Case study.
Aztec Shoe
Industries Pvt Ltd is a medium scale shoe factory manufacturing shoes
exclusively for the export sector. It has two plants, one in Pune, Maharashtra
and the other in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. The year 2015 was not very good for the
company as export orders were scarce and both the plants were operating at much
less than full capacity. However, in the beginning of 2016, in March there was
good news at last as the company was awarded a big contract to manufacture
nearly 5 lakh pairs for a European company and as a result of this order, both
the plants started working at full capacity again. However, in July 2016 when
only about
50% of the order
was executed, disaster struck, as the company received news that the European
client had declared bankruptcy and the order was cancelled. To overcome the
situation, the MD of Aztec, Mr Azad, directed the sales team to procure
additional orders on a war footing and also declared that a 20% salary cut will
be carried out for all employees (including the MD himself) in the organization
for the next three months. He left the implementation of this wage deduction
policy, to the General Managers of both the plants.
How the Pune Plant
handled the Wage deduction Issue
After receiving
the wage deduction policy instruction from the MD, the GM of this plant, Mr
Murthy invited the General Secretary (GS) of the Union Mr Mehta for a meeting.
Then, he appraised Mr. Mehta regarding the situation which had forced the
Company Management to declare a 20% across the board wage-cut for all the
employees in the plant. He also requested Mr Mehta to convince the workmen
regarding the necessity of this unfortunate action. Following this meeting, the
Union GS, Mr. Mehta addressed all the workmen together and discussed the gist
of the conversation that he had with the General Mgr and also conveyed the GM’s
request for cooperation from all concerned. Later, the GM (Mr Murthy), issued a
notice addressing the employees which was pasted on the Main Notice Board and
on all prominent places inside the plant. This notice was as follows:- “It is hereby brought to the notice of all
employees that due to the unprecedented financial crisis that our company is
facing, the Management is constrained to declare a 20% across the board wage
deduction for the next three months. The situation will be reviewed after that
period and if the situation improves, later, the deducted money will be returned
with interest to everyone.”
A.1) How the
Workmen reacted to this Wage-Cut in the Pune Plant
This curt notice
pasted on the notice board generated a lot of discussion among the workmen and
most were not convinced that the situation was so bad that a 20% wage-cut
needed to be imposed and that too at a time when the festival season was
approaching. Many also felt that the company may be taking advantage of a bad
situation to deny the workmen their dues. However, there were some, very few
workmen who appreciated the fact that the management had opted for a general
pay-cut and had not resorted to a lay-off.
A.2 Industrial
Relation scenario during those three months period
The number of
cases of workmen indiscipline was far more during this 3 month period than
during the preceding months. Confrontation between the workmen and the
management became almost a daily affair, absenteeism was much higher than
previous and in general the quality of the production deteriorated. In general,
the whole industrial relation scenario deteriorated and naturally the
production of the plant suffered. Apart from these, there were also cases of
sabotage and surprisingly cases of pilferage were also much higher during this
period than in the preceding months.
B) How the Hosur
Plant handled the Wage deduction Issue
The General
Manager of the Hosur plant (Mr Sukhbir), also invited the General Secretary of
the plant and also the most important office bearers for a presentation by his
team explaining why this pay-cut was required vis-à-vis the company’s financial
position. The basic idea was to convince the Union office bearers that i) this
action was unavoidable, given the company’s financial position and ii) this
pay-cut was only a temporary affair. The GM also instructed his Sr Mgrs to
interact with the workmen under them and explain the logic behind this
unfortunate decision. In this way, the GM ensured that the rank and file
understood and was convinced about the necessity of this pay-cut decision.
B.1) How the
Workmen reacted to this Wage-Cut in the Pune Plant
Due to methods
employed by Mr Sukhbir to explain why this action was necessary, unlike the
workmen of the Pune plant, the majority of the workmen were convinced about the
veracity of this action. They also felt that they also should cooperate with
the management to tide-over this difficult period and so extended their
cooperation.
B.2 Industrial
Relation scenario during those three months period
Surprisingly,
cases of indiscipline actually reduced during the three month’s period.
Absenteeism during this period actually improved and the production also
improved marginally over the previous periods. Cases of sabotage and theft were
non-existent.
Q1) In the Pune plant, how would you explain the
“rampant indiscipline” that occurred in those 3 months and can you link the
cases of theft with any theory? (10
marks)
Q2) In your opinion, what factor (or factors) are
responsible for the different ways in which the workmen reacted in the two
plants. (10 marks)
Case study.
Vasir joined ABC
Metaliks Ltd as an “Office Boy” on 1st April 2022 at a monthly consolidated pay
of Rs 6000. On 30th September’22, there was a big fire in the office and Vasir
showed exemplary courage in dousing the fire and saving company property.
However, he was severely burnt and spent three months in the hospital and
rejoined duty on 1st of January’23 only.
In acknowledgement of his courage and bravery, the company promoted him
to Jr Clerk at a consolidated salary of Rs 8000/month (Minm Wage was Rs 5500
per mth) from 1st Jan’22. On 31st March’23, the company declared a bonus of
15%; paid Vasir Rs 7500/- as yearly bonus considering the three months
hospitalisation as “unauthorized” leave.
Q3a. What would be
the yearly earnings of Vasir for his bonus calculation? (5 marks)
Industrial relations & Labour laws
1. In a
manufacturing unit located in Gujarat, India, there has been a recent increase
in instances of industrial unrest, including strikes and disputes between the
management and the workforce. The primary issues include disagreements over
wage revisions, working conditions, and communication breakdowns. As an HR
consultant, propose a set of practical suggestions to improve industrial
relations in this scenario. Consider the cultural and legal aspects of the
Indian industrial landscape in your recommendations. (10 Marks)
2. In a textile
manufacturing company based in Mumbai, India, there have been complaints from
workers regarding irregularities in the payment of wages. Some employees claim
they are not receiving their wages on time, while others express concerns about
unauthorized deductions. As an HR consultant well-versed in labor laws, provide
a comprehensive set of recommendations to ensure compliance with the Payment of
Wages Act, 1936, addressing issues related to timely payment, permissible
deductions, and the provision of pay slips. Consider practical steps the
company can take to improve transparency and adherence to the legal
requirements outlined in the Act. (10 Marks)
3. In a heavy
machinery manufacturing plant in Mumbai, India, tension has arisen between the
management and the workforce due to disputes over wage revisions and working
conditions. Workers, represented by a trade union, are demanding higher wages
and improved facilities, while the management is concerned about maintaining
operational efficiency and competitiveness in the market. Negotiations have
reached an impasse, and there is a looming threat of a potential strike. The
atmosphere is tense, and both parties are looking for resolution mechanisms.
a) As an HR
consultant, the management seeks your guidance on initiating a collective
bargaining process with the trade union to address the wage revision and
working conditions. Outline the key steps, strategies, and principals involved
in effective collective bargaining that can lead to a mutually beneficial
agreement. Consider the legal framework and cultural nuances within the Indian
industrial context. (5 Marks)
b) The workers, on
the other hand, are considering the option of a strike to emphasize their
demands. As a conciliation officer appointed by the government, outline the
steps you would take to facilitate conciliation between the management and the
trade union. Highlight the role of conciliation in preventing industrial
disputes, the legal provisions supporting the process, and the potential outcomes
that can be achieved through successful conciliation. (5 Marks)
Manpower Planning, Recruitment and
Selection
1. “E-recruitment
is one of the modern channels of recruitment”. Do you agree with this
statement? Why or why not? (10 Marks)
2. Career Anchors
play vital role while deciding the career choices. Give your inputs and explain
in detail. (10 Marks)
3. Human Resource
is a valuable asset of the organization. It can make or break the organization.
Performance
Appraisal is very sensitive and close to the heart of every employee. So,
appraisals need to be done with utmost care.
What challenges a manager might face while
appraising the performance of his team members? (5 Marks)
Service
Operations Management
Q1. Defining the concept of the ‘Service
Design; explain in detail the different ways in which organizations can
implement ‘Service Design’? Support your explanation with a reference to a
restaurant setup (you can choose any reference setup of your own choice) (10 Marks)
Q2. Enlist and explain in detail the
various dimensions through which Service organisations are evaluated for
Quality by customers? Elaborate your answer with a reference of any educational
institute of your choice. (10 Marks)
Q3. The Healthcare sector has become a
very critical service sector domain in recent times, especially in the post
Covid scenario. Hence it is very obvious for Healthcare Institutes to plan
their operations in several ways to provide the best services to their target
customers. Explain the following aspects of these organisations in context of
the following areas as given below.
a) Enlist and explain the various elements
that need to be incorporated in a Service Framework of the setup. (5 Marks)
b) How do
healthcare setups use the concept of a Service Design (Blueprinting) for their service
operations. (5 Marks)
Commercial Banking System & Role of
RBI
1. Capital
formation is important for economic growth of any country. It helps in making a
particular country self-sufficient in such a way that it does not have to be
dependent on other nations for foreign investments. Explain the different
factors affecting capital formation. (10 Marks)
2. Commercial
banks are life-line of any economy. They play a very important role in
development of trade & commerce in the country. Describe different
functions of Commercial banks and do SWOT analysis of Commercial Banks. (10
Marks)
3. One of the
critical source of income of commercial banks is interest income which bank
earns from interest on loans and advances to the customer. Advances may be
classified as fund based and non-fund based. In today’s scenario of increasing
Non Performing Assets (NPA) of the bank, banks are focusing more on non-fund
based loans.
a) Discuss any
three fund based loans and its advantages. (5 Marks)
b) Discuss any
three non-fund based loans and its advantages. (5 Marks)
Fundamentals of Big Data & Business
Analytics
1. Consider a
hypothetical scenario in the financial industry where a retail bank is looking
to enhance its customer segmentation strategies using big data analytics.
Discuss how the concepts of descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics
can be applied to analyze customer transaction data and improve marketing
campaigns. Provide specific examples of analytical techniques and potential
business outcomes. (10 Marks)
2. Imagine a
healthcare organization aiming to reduce readmission rates for patients with
chronic diseases. Explain how big data analytics can help identify high-risk
patients, predict readmission likelihood, and prescribe personalized
interventions to improve patient outcomes. Illustrate the application of
descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics in addressing this
healthcare challenge. (10 Marks)
3 a) A leading
consumer goods company wants to optimize its supply chain operations to reduce
inventory costs and improve product availability. Describe how descriptive
analytics can be used to analyze historical sales data and identify demand
patterns. Provide examples of data visualization techniques that can aid in
understanding supply chain dynamics and optimizing inventory levels. (5 Marks)
b) In the
transportation sector, a
logistics company is
seeking to enhance
route optimization and fleet management using big data analytics.
Discuss how descriptive analytics can be applied to analyze transportation
data, such as vehicle GPS coordinates and delivery times. Additionally, explain
the role of predictive analytics in forecasting traffic patterns and optimizing
delivery routes for efficiency and cost savings. (5 Marks)
IT Project Management
Q1. What are the
key steps involved in project closure, and why is this phase critical for
project management? Include a brief description of project evaluation and
administrative closure. (10 Marks)
Q2. You are
managing a project with high-risk factors, and you need to develop a comprehensive
risk management plan. What steps would you take to identify, analyze, and
mitigate these risks to minimize the impact on the project? (10 Marks)
Q3. Your Company
has been hired by an e-commerce start up to design and develop a new online
platform. The project is complex, involving multiple teams and tight deadlines.
During the design phase, the client makes significant changes to the original
scope, requesting additional features like personalized product recommendations
and advanced analytics. This scope change causes delays and budget overruns,
putting the project’s success at risk.
a) As the project
manager, how would you address the impact of these scope changes on the
project timeline and budget? What
steps would you
take to minimize disruption to the project plan? (5 Marks)
b) What
measures would you
implement to manage the increased workload
and maintain team morale in light of the additional scope? In this scenario, what strategies could you
employ to avoid future scope creep and ensure a successful project delivery
despite these challenges? (5 Marks)
IT Infrastructure Management
1. Elucidate the
six approaches to green computing with relevant example for each approach. (10
Marks)
2. How is Capacity
Management and Availability Management alike or different in terms of the
Service Design Processes? (10 Marks)
3. A server farm
serves several purposes in the industry. Based on your clients’ requirements
explain in depth with relevant examples how each of the following works in real
time:
a) The server farm
that is set up for compilation of computer programs remotely. (5 Marks)
b) The server farm
that helps rendering computer generated images that provide visual effects in
films and television. (5 Marks)
Emerging
Technologies: IoT, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality
Q1. Anna, a
30-year-old office worker, leads a sedentary lifestyle and struggles to
maintain a regular exercise routine due to her busy schedule and lack of
motivation. Concerned about her health and well-being, Anna explores
alternative fitness options to make exercise more enjoyable and engaging. Upon
researching innovative fitness solutions, Anna discovers virtual reality (VR)
technology as a potential game-changer in revolutionizing her workout
experience. Intrigued by the idea of immersing herself
in virtual environments
while exercising, Anna decides to explore VR fitness applications to
kickstart her fitness journey. Anna downloads a VR fitness app that offers a
variety of immersive workouts and experiences tailored to individuals of all
fitness levels. The app provides virtual environments ranging from serene
landscapes to challenging obstacle courses, allowing users to choose their
preferred workout settings. Anna jogs along a scenic beach in one VR workout
session, accompanied by motivating music and virtual trainers guiding her
through the workout routine. As she progresses, Anna encounters interactive
challenges and obstacles designed to keep her engaged and motivated, such as
jumping over hurdles and dodging virtual obstacles. Throughout the workout,
Anna’s VR headset tracks her movements and provides real-time feedback on her
performance, including calories burned, distance covered, and exercise
intensity. As she completes the workout, Anna feels a sense of accomplishment,
encouraged by her progress and the immersive virtual experience. After several
weeks of incorporating VR workouts into her routine, Anna notices significant
improvements in her overall
fitness levels, including
increased stamina, strength,
and flexibility. She credits VR technology’s immersive and interactive
nature for keeping her motivated and committed to her fitness goals. How can
virtual reality (VR) technology revolutionize the fitness industry and enhance
workout experiences for individuals of all fitness levels, as demonstrated in
Anna’s case? Provide examples of VR applications and discuss their potential
benefits in motivation, engagement, and physical performance improvement.
Additionally, address any potential challenges or limitations associated with
integrating VR technology into fitness routines and how they can be
overcome. (10 Marks)
Q2. In a rapidly
growing urban centre in a developing country, the municipal government is
considering implementing a smart city initiative to address various urban
challenges and improve its residents’ overall quality of life. The city faces
issues such as traffic congestion, inadequate waste management, unreliable
energy supply, and limited access to essential services. The smart city
initiative aims to leverage technology, particularly Internet of Things (IoT)
solutions, to transform the urban landscape and create a more efficient,
sustainable, and inclusive city. IoT sensors will be deployed across the city
to monitor traffic flow, manage waste collection, optimize energy usage, and
enhance public safety.
However,
implementing the smart city initiative raises important socioeconomic
considerations, including its potential impacts on economic growth, social
inclusion, environmental sustainability, digital divide, and privacy concerns.
Discuss the potential socioeconomic impacts of implementing a smart city
initiative in the context of the developing country. How can smart city
technologies contribute to economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental
sustainability while addressing the digital divide and privacy concerns? (10 Marks)
Q3. Sarah, a
65-year-old retired teacher, was recently diagnosed with age-related macular
degeneration (AMD), a condition that affects her central vision. She struggles
with reading and recognizing faces, impacting her daily activities and
independence. Despite receiving treatment from her ophthalmologist, Sarah feels
overwhelmed and anxious about managing her condition. Her healthcare team
suggests incorporating augmented reality (AR) technology into her care plan to
address Sarah’s concerns and enhance her quality of life. They introduce Sarah
to an AR application designed specifically for individuals with visual
impairments, which overlays digital enhancements onto her real-world
environment through smart glasses or a smartphone.
a) Discuss the
benefits of AR applications in assisting individuals like Sarah in improving
their daily functioning, rehabilitation, social support, and education about
their condition. (5 Marks)
b) Address AR
technology’s ethical considerations and privacy concerns in healthcare
settings. (5 Marks)
E-Business
1. You are hired
as a consultant by a retail chain to assess the potential advantages of
shifting from a traditional brick-and-mortar store to an e-business model.
Provide insights on essential strategies that the retail stores can execute for
successful transition to online business highlighting the risks and limitations
along with recommendations for mitigating the same. (10 Marks)
2. Explain in
detail any 5 methods used by e-businesses for gathering customer data using
combination of active (atleast 2) and passive (atleast 2) data collection
techniques while also highlighting the ethical considerations associated with
each method. (10 Marks)
3. You have been
hired by a quick commerce startup promising delivery to customers within
minutes as an operations consultant to enhance their business productivity.
a) Explain the
importance of e-SCM for managing its supply chain more efficiently and
highlight importance of e-CRM to effectively understand its customers. (5
Marks)
b) Explain how the
startup can integrate e-SCM and e-CRM to create a unique e-business model. (5
Marks)
Cloud Computing
1. You are the CIO
of a Prime Defense Contractor. Your firm works very closely – e.g., sharing Top
Secret / Classified Documents with your Tier1 and Tier2 Subcontractors. As
such, you are evaluating the use of cloud and the right choice for the Cloud
Deployment model for your firm and your Tier1 and Tier2 Subcontractors. Prepare
an Approach Document to serve as the basis of an Executive Meeting with the
Leadership of your firm and the CIOs to discuss this initiative. (10 Marks)
2. Mitra Software
is a young and rapidly growing Software Products Firm – and they’re developing
products such as HRMitra, AccountsMitra, etc… Mitra currently operates in a
bootstrapped mode – i.e., money is very tight. You are the CTO and you’re
preparing the Cloud Strategy, which should provide platform flexibility to the
developers in the various Product Teams who are developing Cloud-Native Apps,
for a rapid Go-to-market product deployment. Specifically, you are evaluating
What cloud
services to opt for – i.e., IaaS, PaaS &/or SaaS?
Which cloud
service provider would be ideal – i.e., AWS, Azure, or GAE?
Prepare an
Approach Document to serve as the basis of an Executive Meeting with the CEO
& CFO to discuss this initiative. You may get more details by visiting the
web site of these firms or you can make your own assumptions. (10 Marks)
3. The Top
Management of Sushruta Hospitals is meeting to discuss their plan for a New
Patient Records Management Solution. Both the COO, Mr. Unnithan and the CFO,
Ms. Sinha are of the strong opinion that the company should develop and
implement a Custom On-Premise Patient Records Management Solution to be
developed by a Top5 IT Firm.
On the other hand,
both Ms. Naidu, Head of Sales and Mr. Sandhu, CIO are keen to move to a popular
SaaS-based Patient Records Management Product. The debate is getting heated as
Mr. Unnithan also recalled past IT system implementation failures.
a) What arguments
can Mr. Unnithan make in favor of in-house Custom On-Premise Patient Records
Management Solution? (5 Marks)
b) What arguments
can Mr.
Sandhu make in
favor of a
SaaS-based Patient Records Management Product? (5 Marks)
Supply Chain Management
1. ABC
Manufacturing is a mid-sized company specializing in producing eco-friendly
home appliances. The company has been experiencing significant fluctuations in
demand, which have led to inventory surplus at times and stockouts at others.
These inconsistencies have resulted in increased costs, customer
dissatisfaction, and operational inefficiencies. Recently, the management team
has decided to invest in advanced demand forecasting methods to address these
challenges. You are the newly appointed Demand Planning Manager at ABC
Manufacturing. Your task is to implement and suggest demand forecasting methods
to improve the company’s performance. (10 Marks)
2. How does the
vendor managed inventory help Walmart India in improving performance? Explain
the challenges faced by Walmart India during VMI implementation. (10 Marks)
3. Transportation
Plays an important role in the success of a supply chain. It’s the link that
connects suppliers to manufacturers, manufacturers to distributors, and
ultimately gets products into the hands of consumers. Efficient transportation
ensures that goods move swiftly through the supply chain, reducing lead times
and minimizing delays.
a) Describe the
different transportation methods that soft drink companies can utilize to
distribute their products. (5 Marks)
b) You are the newly appointed Logistics Manager and your primary task
is to suggest and resolve the transportation challenges the company is facing.
(5 Marks)
Marketing research
Q1. You are the business head of
a FMCG firm, your company has recently launched a new range of beauty products
alongside the company has launched a major advertising campaign, Your
management is of the opinion that the lack of consumer traction is due to poor
advertising by your advertising agency. Would you agree with point of view? How
do you establish the facts? Plan a research project. (10 Marks)
Q2. “Marketing is the business”. Prove or disprove this hypothesis by
applying the 4 P’s of marketing for Indian Space Research Organization as a
business. (10 Marks)
Q3. Your company is planning to launch a new range of face creams
targeted to men. In a country like India this is category has not performed too
well in such scenario:
a) Define the TG and markets you shall target give justifications for
your selection, why do you think target grouping so important in market
research. (5 Marks)
b) Which sampling techniques
would you use
for understanding consumer
needs. Create a 10-question questionnaire to understand consumer
needs. (5 Marks)
World Class
Operations
1. Vijay Ananthan has just joined as the GM – Maintenance at a leading
Compressor Manufacturer. As he reviews the company’s Equipment Maintenance
history, he is concerned that there is no coherent Maintenance Strategy – i.e.,
except for some cases (e.g., critical equipment) where the company uses
Preventive Maintenance, the common approach is
Reactive Maintenance. In order to
streamline the Maintenance
Department, Vijay is keen to adopt a Predictive Maintenance Strategy.
In this context, …
Describe the Reactive Maintenance &
Preventive Maintenance approaches, along with their respective Pros
& Cons. Explain the Predictive Maintenance approach and why Vijay would
want to adopt it to overcome the
problems of Reactive Maintenance &
Preventive Maintenance. (10Marks)
2. World Class Manufacturers
(WCMs) in diverse
sectors such as
Automotive (Nissan, BMW), Appliances (Siemens, Hyundai), etc., are
highly reputed for their unflinching commitment to Quality. These manufacturers have understood that
Quality is about identifying “what is important to Customers” and delivering
this to their customers. Explain how
these (and other) WCMs use frameworks such as QFD and HOQ to help embed Quality
into every aspect of the Product Creation – From Concept to Manufacturing. (10Marks)
3a. Quality Awards are not only about rewarding organizations but also
about recognizing the importance of quality in the business. These awards are
often used as a tool to raise awareness among both Employees and as well,
Customers about the importance of quality. They also help to improve Customer
Satisfaction and Employee Morale. Discuss the difference between Regional and
International Awards. (5 marks)
b) Describe the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Award
and its Evaluation Criteria. (5 marks)
Lean six sigma
1. Examine the utilization of the DMAIC methodology and its relevant
tools for improving business processes in an electric car manufacturing firm.
Enumerate five process audits suitable for implementation within such a
company, and elaborate on the specifics of at least two of these audits. (10
Marks)
2. Consider yourself as a Six Sigma project leader overseeing operations
for an online cab service in India. Construct a fishbone diagram to identify
potential issues (any 5) faced by online cab services that accepting customer
orders through apps. Furthermore, elucidate the stages of Failure Mode and
Effects Analysis (FMEA), offering examples from the online cab services for
each step. (10 Marks)
A burgeoning Ed-tech startup seeks to increase technical workforce to
support its expanding operations. The HR department lacks an IT system
dedicated to managing the hiring process, relying predominantly on email for
communication. In addition, they primarily undertakes candidate sourcing
internally and occasionally collaborates with external recruitment agencies on
an ad-hoc basis.
a) Construct a flowchart depicting the recruitment process for a new
staff member, utilizing the SIPOC diagram to elucidate the various processes
and decision tasks inherent in a typical recruitment process. (5 Marks)
b) Distinguish between verification and validation using examples and
discuss techniques employed in validation activities for new product and
process design. (5 Marks)
New Product
Development and Managing Innovation
1. You’re part of the strategy team at an educational technology startup
targeting young adults. Your task is to lead the development of a new product
aimed at providing learning opportunities for individuals in their late teens
and twenties. The product will cover various subjects such as coding, music,
arts, etc. Explain your approach throughout the different stages of the generic
product design and development process. (10 Marks)
2. What components constitute product packaging, and what functions does
packaging fulfill? Consider the role of packaging through the perspective of
e-commerce platforms in India (e.g., Amazon, Big Basket, Myntra, Meesho).
Discuss the significance of product packaging in this context. (10 Marks)
3a. You hold the position of product manager at a cutting-edge
technology startup. Your friend is establishing a business and seeks guidance
on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). Clarify the different forms of IPR and
emphasize the importance of integrating IPR considerations into new product
development. Offer an illustrative example for each type of IPR. (5 Marks)
Let’s say you’re part of the team at FitSprint, a startup specializing
in Android app development. FitSprint seeks your expertise in analyzing various
product features for their upcoming fitness tracking app using the Kano model.
Provide a concise overview of the Kano model and discuss its classifications of
features within the realm of smartphone applications. (5 marks)
Treasury
Management in Banking
1. RBI is building up Forex Reserves thru buying USD from the inter-bank
market to maintain INR volatility and then doing INR sterilisation to avoid
money supply. Explain the impact of this RBI action on Money Supply &
inflation. (10 Marks)
2. In view of the Geo-political situation world-wide, what are the
products provided by banks to Corporates to hedge forex risk and interest rate
risk. Explain with example. (10 Marks)
3. Explain the role of the Treasurer considering:
a) What are challenges in International Treasury Management? (5 Marks)
b) What are the Best Practices for International Treasury Management? (5
Marks)
International
Banking & Foreign Exchange Management
Q1. Suppose that you have just been hired as an Economist by the IMF.
Explain to your friends what your organization does and its importance in the
world. (10 Marks)
Q2. Ajay is a Non Resident Indian (NRI) and wants to open a bank account
in India. Describe the different kinds of accounts that he can open. Discuss
the features of these accounts and distinguish between them. (10 Marks)
Insurance and risk
management
Q1. ABC Insurance Company, a prominent participant in the property and
liability insurance domain, encountered the formidable obstacle of providing
insurance coverage for properties situated in regions at high risk of natural
calamities, including hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires. Although these
policies offered policyholders necessary coverage, there was a significant risk
of suffering enormous
losses in the
event of a catastrophic occurrence. In order to tackle this obstacle,
XYZ Insurance Company put in place a strong reinsurance plan. They collaborated
with a number of elite reinsurers to disperse the risk of disastrous
occurrences over a larger range. By doing this, XYZ Insurance Company hoped to
lessen its vulnerability to significant losses while still being able to carry
out its policy responsibilities. Enumerate
the term “Reinsurance”
and highlight the
various areas of
application of Reinsurance. (10 Marks)
Q2. In the insurance sector, risk management holds significant
importance. Provide a detailed explanation of the risk management process,
including its individual steps. (10
Marks)
Q3a. Consider yourself an insurance company’s legal counsel. A client
has approached you regarding property insurance. The insured interest is the
client’s worry. Explain the concept of insurable interest. Write a thorough
answer outlining the meaning of insurable interest for your customer and
provide the details on the essentials of insurable interest. (5 Marks)
Q3b. Vishal insured his car for ₹15,00,000, but it was stolen shortly
afterward. The insurance company will compensate him for the loss as per the
policy terms. However, if Vishal later recovers his car, the insurer will
retain full ownership rights to it. This is because Vishal has already received
compensation for the loss and is not permitted to profit from the situation in
any way. Identify the underlined principle of insurance stated in the above
scenario. Also, mention the important aspects on the stated principle and its
limitations. (5 Marks)
International
Logistics & Supply Chain Management
Q1. An international medical
device manufacturing company exports
its products to India where its customers are served
through its sole national distribution agent. With the growing Indian market
and the benefits of the production-linked incentives offered by the Indian
government, it has sensed a lucrative opportunity for setting up its
manufacturing operations in India to cater to not just the domestic market but
the entire Indian subcontinent region. How can the company go about its supply
chain planning? Suggest appropriate supply chain strategy / strategies for the
same. (10 marks)
Q2. A leading Indian perfume brand is planning an expansion to export
its products to countries in the Indian subcontinent region. What are the
various factors it must consider in planning the logistics for the exports?
Suggest the appropriate choice of logistics strategy (in-house / outsourcing,
etc.) for the same. (10 marks)
Q3. An Indian importer of glassware products is setting up its
manufacturing operations in India for which it will need to import silica sand
& quartz sand into India.
a) Compare the various options of transportation modes to import the
silica sand & quartz sand, and explain the choice of the appropriate
transportation modes. (5 marks)
b) From which countries can the importer import silica sand & quartz
sand? How can it facilitate such import procurement over the long term in a
consistent & reliable manner? (5
marks)
IT Security and
Risk Management
Q1. What is the definition of Information Security, and how does it
encompass the principles of confidentiality, integrity, and availability
(commonly known as the CIA triad)? Why is maintaining information security
critical in various industries and environments, such as business, healthcare,
government, and education? Discuss the potential risks and consequences when
one or more aspects of the CIA triad are compromised, providing specific
examples or scenarios where these principles play a crucial role in protecting
sensitive information and ensuring organizational resilience. Also explain how
best practices in information security can help organizations mitigate threats,
safeguard data, and maintain operational continuity. (10 Marks)
Q2. Imagine you’re a cybersecurity consultant tasked with improving the
access control system for a multinational corporation. In this scenario, the
company operates in multiple regions with diverse workforce demographics,
including remote employees, contractors, and on-site staff. Your objective is
to enhance the existing access control mechanisms to ensure robust security
while accommodating the
organization’s dynamic environment. Describe the identification and
authentication techniques you would recommend for this scenario. Provide
examples of specific authentication methods, such as passwords, biometrics,
multifactor authentication (MFA), and single sign-on (SSO), and explain their
suitability in different usage scenarios within the corporation. Additionally,
discuss any potential challenges or limitations associated with implementing
these techniques on a large scale and propose strategies to address them
effectively. (10 Marks)
Q3. You are a cybersecurity analyst working for a major financial
institution that has experienced several security incidents in recent months.
The incidents include unauthorized access to sensitive customer information,
distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, and malware infections that
have caused significant operational disruptions. In this scenario, you are
tasked with preparing a report for the company’s executive team, explaining the
differences between security threats, attacks, and vulnerabilities.
a) Describe the common types of security threats and attacks that can
affect a financial institution like yours, outlining their potential impacts on
data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Provide examples of specific
threats such as phishing, ransomware, DDoS, SQL injection, and insider threats.
(5 Marks)
b) Explain how these threats differ from vulnerabilities, and why
understanding the distinction is critical for effective cybersecurity strategy.
Highlight typical sources of vulnerabilities, like outdated software,
misconfigurations, or weak access controls, and describe how vulnerabilities can
be exploited by various security threats and attacks. Conclude your report with
recommendations for mitigating these threats, addressing vulnerabilities, and
strengthening the organization’s overall security posture.
Digital Payments
Q1. Analyze the factors driving the widespread adoption of digital
wallets among consumers and businesses, highlighting key benefits and
functionalities they offer. Evaluate the potential challenges and risks
associated with the use of digital wallets and Discuss strategies to mitigate
these challenges and enhance the trustworthiness and resilience of digital
wallet systems. (10 Marks)
Q2. Analyze the factors contributing to the rise of Bitcoin as a
decentralized digital currency. Assess the potential benefits and challenges of
Bitcoin’s integration into the traditional financial landscape. Discuss the key technological innovations that underpin
Bitcoin’s decentralized nature, including blockchain technology and
cryptographic principles. (10 Marks)
A local bakery has decided to implement digital payment options
alongside its traditional cash-based transactions to accommodate changing
consumer preferences and enhance convenience for its customers.
a) Assess the factors influencing the local bakery’s decision to adopt
digital payments. Analyze the potential benefits and challenges associated with
integrating digital payment solutions into the bakery’s operations. (5 Marks)
b) Investigate how the introduction of digital payment options affects
transaction volume, average transaction value, and customer retention. Discuss
strategies the bakery can employ to maximize the benefits of digital payments
while mitigating any challenges or risks. (5 Marks)
Advanced Supply
Chain Management
Q1. Discuss how you will create an efficient transportation network
which can play a pivotal role in ensuring a responsive supply chain for your
organizations. (10 Marks)
Q2. DMart Ready is the online service provided by DMart a grocery brand.
It allows its customers to conveniently order groceries, staples, and daily
household essentials online. DMart Ready has established several pick-up points for customer’s convenience. Which distribution network design would DMart
Ready would be using for this? Differentiate it with other distribution
network. (10 Marks)
Q3. Your organization is designing its supply chain needs to consider
both pricing and revenue management so that it earns good profit without
compromising on customer satisfaction.
a) What pricing strategy will you recommend to ensure maximization of
growth in the revenue for your organization if it is catering to multiple
segments. (Consider any organization of your choice, give examples) (5 Marks)
b) If your organization considers a markdown management, discuss the
markdown management process steps you would plan. (5 Marks)
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